IRISH squad member Mike McCarthy returns to Connacht for today’s final pre-season fixture with English premiership side Saracens in London (6.45pm).

CONNACHT coach Eric Elwood has been limited in his squad selection for tonight’s clash with Ireland due to injuries and has made only three changes from the team that lost 47-10 to Exeter Chiefs last weekend.

Connacht coach Eric Elwood has named his team for Friday night’s Magners League game against Cardiff Blues, kick-off 7.45pm.

Connacht coach Eric Elwood has today announced his side for Friday night’s Magners League match against the Cardiff Blues at the Sportsground, kick-off 7.45pm.

Crosshaven 17 Monivea 9

Connacht 27 Edinburgh 23

IT is redemption week for Connacht, according to coach Eric Elwood. After a disappointing loss to Aironi in Italy, Elwood is banking on home advantage to help the province record their sixth win on the trot at home to Edinburgh this evening.

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).

Connacht coach Eric Elwood has named his side for Saturday’s Magners League match against Aironi at the Stadio Zaffanella, kick-off 4.30pm.

Connacht coach Eric Elwood has named his side for Friday’s Magners League meeting with Aironi at the Sportsground, kick-off 7.35pm.

Connacht coach Eric Elwood has named his team for Sunday’s Magners League clash with the Ospreys at the Liberty Stadium, kick-off 2.40pm.

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

Connacht coach Eric Elwood has named his side for Saturday’s Magners League match with the Scarlets at the Sportsground in Galway, kick-off 7.35pm.

IRELAND’S growing injury list has claimed Jamie Heaslip, Shane Horgan and John Hayes, all of whom have become the latest players to be ruled out of the Six Nations opener in Italy in eight days.

IT has been a largely forgettable Amlin Challenge Cup campaign for last year’s finalists Connacht but one memorable moment came last weekend when Eric Elwood’s men created history in the 35-21 defeat of Bayonne.

Connacht coach Eric Elwood has named his side for tomorrow's Amlin Challenge Cup game with Cavalieri Prato at the Sportsgrounds, kick-off 6pm.

Connacht coach Eric Elwood has named his side for Saturday’s Amlin Challenge Cup game with Bayonne at the Stade Jean Bauger, kick-off 7.45pm.

Connacht coach Eric Elwood has named his side for Thursday’s Magners League match with Newport Gwent Dragons at Rodney Parade (kick-off 7.35pm).

Leinster 30 Connacht 8

Leinster coach Joe Schmidt has named his side for Saturday’s Magners League derby with Connacht at the RDS. (kick-off 5.30pm)

Connacht 12 Munster 16

MUNSTER will be hoping to put a miserable week on and off the pitch behind them when they play Connacht in the Magners League at the Galway Sportsground this evening (kick-off 6.10pm).

Former Munster player Keith Matthews will captain Connacht for their St Stephen’s Day Magners League meeting with league leaders Munster at the Sportsground in Galway. (kick-off 6.10pm)

Connacht coach Eric Elwood has announced his side for Friday night’s Amlin Challenge Cup game against Harlequins at the Sportsgrounds (kick-off 7pm).

OLD rivals and former colleagues clash in tomorrow’s Amlin Challenge Cup when Harlequins host Connacht at the Twickenham Stoop.

Connacht coach Eric Elwood has named his side to face Harlequins for Sunday’s Amlin Challenge Cup game at the Stoop in London. (kick-off 5.45pm)

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).

Connacht coach Eric Elwood has named his side for Friday night’s Magners League game against Edinburgh in Murrayfield. (kick-off 7.05pm )

Connacht coach Eric Elwood has named his side that will face the Ospreys in their Magners clash at the Sportsground on Friday night. (kick-off 7pm)

Connacht coach Eric Elwood has made two changes to the side to play Benetton Treviso in the Magner’s League this Saturday evening at Stadio di Monigo.

Connacht 16 Bayonne 13

CONNACHT coach Eric Elwood has backed his side to revive their Amlin Challenge Cup hopes against French outfit Bayonne at the Galway Sportsground tonight.

Ireland’s Gavin Duffy and Sean Cronin return to the Connacht side to play Bayonne in the Amlin Challenge Cup at The Sportsground on Friday night.

Sean Cronin, Jamie Hagan and Gavin Duffy return to the Connacht squad to play Bayonne in the Amlin Challenge Cup at The Sportsground on Friday night (7pm).

CONNACHT are expecting perfect weather conditions to play some expansive rugby against newcomers I Cavalieri Estra in their opening European match in Italy this afternoon (2pm Irish time).

Connacht will have to make do without their in-form hooker Sean Cronin for their Magners’ League visit to Cardiff Blues tomorrow night (7.05pm).

Connacht Academy graduate Dermot Murphy could be in line for his first competitive appearance in the Magners League away date at Cardiff Blues on Thursday night.

Coach Eric Elwood has chosen the same side that disposed of Glasgow for the visit of Ulster to The Sportsground in the Magner's League tomorrow evening.

Connacht coach Eric Elwood has named a 26-man squad ahead of his side’s clash with Ulster at the Sportsgrounds on Saturday night (KO 7.30pm).

Lock Andrew Browne returns as the only change to the Connacht squad to play the Glasgow Warriors in the Magner’s League tomorrow evening at Firhill (kick-off: 7.30pm).

Andrew Browne returns to the Connacht squad for Friday night's Magners League clash with Glasgow in Firhill (KO 8.05PM).

Mike McComish comes in for the injured Ezra Taylor at number eight for Connacht away to The Scarlets in the Magner’s League at Parc y Scarlets tomorrow afternoon (3pm).

Coach Eric Elwood has brought Darragh Fanning and Shane Conneely into his squad for the trip to The Scarlets in the Magner’s League on Saturday.

ERIC ELWOOD, in his first match as Connacht head coach, has been boosted by the return to action of several key players for this evening’s Magners League opener against the Newport Gwent Dragons (5.30pm).