ULSTER’S All Black World Cup winner John Afoa is relishing his provincial debut in today’s RaboDirect Pro 12 derby clash with Connacht at Ravenhill.

Eric Elwood has made six changes to the Connacht starting XV that will take on Ulster tomorrow evening in Ravenhill (5.35pm) from the team that lost to Cardiff.

CONNACHT out-half Niall O’Connor is looking forward to playing in Ravenhill again tomorrow night when he hopes to pull one over on his former Ulster colleagues in the RaboDirect PRO12.

Tongan World Cup star Fetu'u Vainkolo is set to make his Connacht debut in tomorrow’s RaboDirect PRO12 match against the Cardiff Blues at the Sportsground (6pm).

MANY of Leinster’s Irish Internationals intend to take out their World Cup frustrations on Edinburgh in the seventh round of the RaboDirect Pro 12 at the end of the month.

KEVIN McLAUGHLIN returns from injury to boost Leinster against Connacht in this evening’s RaboDirect Pro 12 clash at the RDS (5pm).

After a mounting injury list during the week sparked suggestions of calling up U20 players to the Connacht team to face Leinster in the RDS this Saturday (5pm) Eric Elwood will be relieved he’s only had to make three changes to his starting team.

Eric Elwood has made three changes to his Connacht pack for their trip to the Liberty Stadium to face the Ospreys tomorrow night (7.30pm).

CONNACHT returned to winning ways last evening, but it took a huge second-half effort to overcome a physical Dragons side at the Galway Sportsground.

Danny Barnes returns to the Munster side for the RaboDirect PRO12 game against Cardiff Blues at the Cardiff City Stadium tomorrow night (7.05pm).

EDINBURGH took the spoils last night to claim their first win of the RaboDirect Pro 12 season at Connacht’s expense who had to settle for an away bonus point.

Jared Payne will make his Ulster debut in tomorrow night's RaboDirect PRO12 game versus Cardiff at Ravenhill (7.05pm).

THE excitement of Heineken Cup rugby finally arriving for Connacht this season must take a back seat this weekend when the new Rabo Direct Pro12 League kicks off.

NO major alarms, no serious injuries, six tries scored and none conceded.

A NEW-LOOK Connacht kick off their first Heineken Cup season this evening (5.30pm) in Athlone’s Dubarry Park with a friendly against English premiership outfit Exeter Chiefs.

MUNSTER coach Tony McGahan promised to make full use of his resources as his side prepares for the new season at Stade Marcel Deflandre tonight (7pm).

Munster 22 Connacht 6

Newport-Gwent Dragons 13 Ulster 20

RONAN O’GARA has warned his Munster team-mates to expect another series of tough challenges tonight against Connacht as the province tries to rebound from the trauma of last weekend’s European defeat to Harlequins.

A RIP-ROARING contest that could have gone either way before Connacht atoned for their slip-up in Italy to record their sixth home win on the trot.

Keith Matthews will celebrate his 100th cap when he lines out for Connacht for tomorrow night’s Magners League against Edinburgh at the Sportground (kick-off 7.45pm).

IT was the Italian hoodoo all over again as Connacht slumped to a 25-13 defeat away to Aironi on Saturday evening for their third Magners League defeat on Italian soil.

ERIC ELWOOD has kept faith with the squad that has racked up five wins on the trot at home as Connacht look to record an away victory over Aironi this afternoon.

CONNACHT climbed into eighth place in the Magners League table after securing a third successive win at the Galway Sportsground last night.

CONNACHT face second-placed Scarlets in tonight’s Magners League tie at the Sportgrounds (7.35pm).

EOIN RYAN fired Roscrea into the Munster Vocational Schools SAHC semi-final at Rathkeale yesterday.

CONNACHT bid to end their worst losing run since the game went professional over a decade and a half ago when they take on the Dragons at Rodney Parade this evening. (7.35pm).

CONNACHT have suffered another serious injury blow with number eight Ezra Taylor ruled out until at least February after breaking a bone in his hand.

CONNACHT coach Eric Elwood is hoping there will be no repeat of last year’s hammering at the hands of Edinburgh when the two sides meet this evening in Murrayfield (7.05pm).

SAMOA open their northern hemisphere tour in Galway this evening when they take on a young Connacht side at the Sportsground (7.05pm).

CONNACHT coach Eric Elwood reckons some of the emerging talent in the province will get a glorious chance to prove themselves when Samoa come to Galway next Tuesday.

Ulster 41 Connacht 10

MICHAEL BRADLEY will hope to end his seven-year stint as Connacht coach by guiding the province to their first win at Ravenhill for four decades tomorrow night.

Connacht coach Michael Bradley has named a 22-man squad for what is effectively a dead rubber against Ulster in the Magner's League at Ravenhill on Friday night.

Ian Keatley has won the battle with Miah Nikora for the out-half slot on the Connacht team to play Toulon in the Amlin Challenge Cup semi-final at the Sportsground tomorrow evening (kick off: 7.45pm).

Captain John Muldoon, centre Niva Ta’auso, scrum-half Frank Murphy and prop Jamie Hagan have all recovered from injury to take their places in Connacht’s 24-man squad for Friday’s Amlin Challenge Cup semi-final against Toulon at the Sportsground.

Connacht coach Michael Bradley will give Ireland U20s Tiernan O’Halloran and Eoin Griffin a chance to show what they can do in the Magner’s League against The Scarlets in Wales on Sunday.

ULSTER could face a Hellor to Connacht situation as the battle to secure Ireland’s third place in the 2010/2011 Heineken Cup in tensifies, with former Irish international heroes Michael Bradley and Eric Elwood fronting the challenge.

CONNACHT coach Michael Bradley has named a strong squad for Sunday’s Magners League showdown against Munster at the Sportsground (5.05pm).

Connacht coach Michael Bradley has named an extended 27-man squad for Sunday’s Magners League clash against Munster at the Sportsground (kick off: 5.05pm).

CONNACHT have received a huge boost with a number of injury doubts named in a 26-man squad for Saturday’s Amlin Challenge Cup quarter-final against Bourgoin.

Connacht 22 Edinburgh 21