Number eight John Muldoon, props Ray Hogan and Stephen Knoop, second-row Christian Short, out-half Paul Warwick and centre James Downey make up a party of six players that will make their European débuts for Connacht at Narbonne in the first round of the Parker Pen Challenge Cup on Saturday (6.30pm Irish time).

Connacht will be looking to extend their winning streak inb the Celtic League to three when Edinburgh come to The Sportsground on Saturday afternoon.

Coach Michael Bradley has wasted no time in making six changes to his Connacht side for the trip to meet Llanelli on Saturday evening.

Halfbacks Eric Elwood and Conor O'Loughlin will make their first starts of the season as Connacht welcome The Borders to The Sportsground on Saturday.

INTERNATIONAL wing Tyrone Howe returns to the Ulster squad for Saturday’s clash with Celtic League table-toppers Neath-Swansea Ospreys at Ravenhill.

Centre Mark McHugh will make his seasonal bow in a Connacht side that shows five changes for an away date at Cardiff Blues in the Celtic League on Friday evening.

CONNACHT will welcome back hooker Bernard Jackman for Saturday’s Celtic League clash with Ulster at the Galway Sportsground at 2.30pm.

Coach Michael Bradley has selected Ireland squad member Bernard Jackman and Mick Carroll as the two alterations to the Connacht side for their clash with Ulster at The Sportsground on Saturday (2.30pm).

Clontarf's Niall O'Brien will replace his clubmate James Downey in the only change in the Connacht side to face Munster in the Celtic League at Musgrave Park on Saturday evening.

Former Australian Sevens captain Paul Warwick will make his competitive debut for Connacht tomorrow at the Sportsground, as coach Michael Bradley has named four of his seven summer signings as starters against Glasgow.

Connacht have made six changes from the side that went down to Newcastle for tonight's friendly at home to London Irish.

WASPS coach Warren Gatland is keeping a close eye on the build-up to the Connacht-Harlequins Parker Pen Cup semi-final in Galway on Sunday.

NEC Harlequins made four changes to their pack to face Connacht in the second leg of the Parker Pen Challenge Cup Semi Final in Galway on Sunday afternoon.

FROM the outset, the Pool 3 clash between Biarritz and Leinster at Parc des Sports Aguilera had the look of a group decider about it.

Connacht 25 Edinburgh 26

Connacht coach Michael Bradley has sprung a surprise by selecting Dave Hewitt at full back, moving Mark McHugh forward to inside centre, for their Celtic Cup semi-final with Edinburgh on Saturday.

Connacht 31 Ulster 20

The biggest match this weekend will be at The Sportsground where third-placed Connacht, showing seven changes from last week, will take on leaders Ulster on Saturday (ko 2.30pm).

Connacht coach Michael Bradley has made two changes to the side for their Celtic League clash against Llanelli at Dubarry Park in Athlone on Friday (7pm).

Leinster 21 Connacht 6

ULSTER will be understrength for the Celtic League visit of Glasgow to Ravenhill this evening (7.35) which will be shown live on TG4.

Connacht coach Michael Bradley has named the same side that beat Edinburgh last Saturday for their difficult trip to take on the Cardiff Blues at the Arms Park on Saturday.

JERRY FLANNERY will make his competitive debut for Munster in tomorrow night’s Celtic League clash with Llanelli Scarlets at Thomond Park (7.30pm).

NEW Leinster coach Gary Ella has marked out young Barnhall player Brendan Burke as a star of the future.

Connacht open their Celtic League campaign this Saturday when they entertain Edinburgh at the Galway Sportsground in a game which kicks-off at 4pm.

Galwegians 16, Clontarf 34

Galwgians 39 Dungannon 18

The Connacht team to play Pontypridd in the second leg of their Parker Pen Challenge Cup quarter-final clash at Sardis Road on Saturday (5.30pm) shows one change from that which started the first leg last week.

The Connacht team to take on Pontypridd in the first leg of their Parker Pen Challenge Cup quarter-final at Ericsson Park, Athlone on Saturday (5.30pm) shows three changes from that which started against Narbonne in the last round.

The Connacht team to play Narbonne in Sunday’s Parker Pen Challenge Cup second round, second leg tie shows three changes from that which went down 42-27 in France on Saturday evening.

Galwegians 29 UL Bohemians 22

Shannon will welcome back Munster stars Mick Galwey and Mossie Lawlor when the AIB League champions face GalwegIans at Thomond Park on Saturday.

Connacht fulfilled expectations of advancing to the next round of the Parker Pen Challenge Cup when finishing ahead of Mont de Marsan by an aggregate 32 points at Crowley Park.

Mont de Marsan 12 Connacht 26

IN a way, a new season starts for Leinster tonight.

Ireland internationals Gavin Duffy and Johnny O'Connor return from injury for Connacht's game against Mont de Marsan in the Parker Pen Challenge Cup this weekend.

Leinster’s struggle in the Celtic League means they must win their clash against Newport tonight at Donnybrook.

MUNSTER captain Jim Williams is to return for the crunch Celtic League game against Neath in Wales on Saturday.

MICK GALWEY leads Munster into Celtic League action against Ulster at Ravenhill this evening as Jim Williams is ruled out due to injury.

REIGNING Celtic League champions Leinster haven’t given up on their title just yet, although coach Matt Williams says they have to win all three remaining games to stand any chance of making the top four in Pool B.

Tonight's Celtic League teams

STEPH NEL likes the odd smoke of the pipe and at half-time at Donnybrook last Friday he was sorely tempted to light up.