Connacht coach Pat Lam has provided each of his players with a rugby ball in an attempt to improve the overall skill levels within the squad.

Connacht head coach Eric Elwood has made four personnel changes from the team that lost to Ulster last weekend for tomorrow’s RaboDirect PRO12 clash with Treviso at the Sadio di Monigo (8.30pm).

Andrew Trimble knows what to expect when he travels to the Sportsground this evening for the big RaboDirect Pro12 derby battle where there is more than bragging rights up for grabs.

Connacht head coach Eric Elwood has rewarded the players who produced an impressive 32-24 win over Edinburgh at Murrayfield last weekend by naming an unchanged team for tomorrow’s league meeting with Ulster the Sportsground (7.45pm).

Connacht are confident that centre Eoin Griffin will be in contention for a place in the starting XV against Ulster this weekend despite suffering a mild concussion in last Friday’s 32-24 victory over Edinburgh.

Veteran lock Michael Swift has recovered from injury to take his place alongside Mike McCarthy in the second row for Connacht’s RaboDirect PRO12 meeting with Edinburgh at Murrayfield tomorrow (7.30pm).

Connacht head coach Eric Elwood has made four personnel and two positional changes to his pack for tomorrow’s RaboDirect PRO12 encounter with Treviso.

Having seen his team win their last three league encounters, Connacht head coach Eric Elwood has kept changes to a minimum for tomorrow night’s RaboDirect PRO12 meeting with Munster at Musgrave Park (5.45pm).

Having endured an injury-plagued season so far, Connacht head coach Eric Elwood is pleased with the strength of his squad as they prepare for Saturday’s RaboDirect PRO12 encounter with Munster in Musgrave Park (5.45pm).

After coming through 65 minutes in last weekend’s victory over Ospreys unscathed Connacht skipper Gavin Duffy will lead the province from the start in tomorrow night’s RaboDirect PRO12 showdown against Cardiff Blues at Arms Park.

Connacht’s impressive 22-10 win over defending PRO12 champions Ospreys last weekend came at a price with a number of players picking up knocks and looking doubtful ahead of Friday’s visit to Cardiff Blues (7.45pm).

Connacht 22 Ospreys 10

Robbie Henshaw returns to provincial duty and is one of three changes Connacht boss Eric Elwood has made to his starting XV for tomorrow night’s clash with the Ospreys at the Sportsground (7.45pm).

Connacht back rower George Naoupu and lock Andrew Browne are considered doubtful ahead of Friday’s RaboDirect PRO12 meeting with Ospreys in the Sportsground (7.45pm).

Scarlets 25 Connacht 15

RaboDirect PRO12: Scarlets v Connacht

Kyle Tonetti will earn his first start for Connacht this season having been named at inside centre in Eric Elwood’s starting team to face Scarlets in tomorrow night’s RaboDirect PRO12 meeting at Parc Y Scarlets (7.30pm).

Dolphin 25 Lansdowne 27

Dolphin 25 Lansdowne 27, Musgrave Park

Connacht received a welcome boost today with a number of players returning from injury as the province resumed training after a week off to begin preparations for their RaboDirect PRO 12 meeting with the Scarlet on February 8.

With Dan Parks unavailable through injury Eric Elwood has selected 22-year-old Matthew Jarvis at flyhalf for Saturday's Heineken Cup round 5 game against Harlequins at the Stoop (1.35pm).

LANSDOWNE 37 DOLPHIN 7

The longest serving player in the RaboDirect PRO12 league is hoping to play for at least another season. Michael Swift, 35, has chalked up a record 156 in the league and has also played 70 games in the Heineken Cup and Amlin Challenge during his 14 seasons with Connacht.

Connacht look set to receive a boost ahead of their RaboDirect PRO 12 match against Newport Gwent Dragon on Saturday (5pm) with a number of players returning to training after injury.

Connacht centre Eoin Griffin believes his young side have to put more wins on the board to match their ambition.

Munster’s bid to close the gap on RaboDirect Pro12 leaders Ulster tomorrow at Thomond Park (5.30pm) may be enhanced by the return of an Ireland Test trio but Rob Penney is under no illusions about the size of the task.

THERE is a famous picture hanging in the headquarters of the ACT Brumbies in Canberra.

Having recovered from a hamstring treatment in Germany, centre Kyle Tonetti has been included in Eric Elwood’s 26-man squad for Saturday’s RaboDirect PRO12 clash with Leinster at the RDS (7.45pm).

Eric Elwood has named a side which shows only one change to the starting XV following last Friday's 22-14 win over Biarritz for the return Heineken Cup Pool 3 fixture at the Parc des Sports Aguilera on Friday (8pm).

Ireland second-row Mike McCarthy makes his return to the Connacht starting XV for the province’s Heineken Cup Pool 3 meeting with Biarritz Olympique Pays Basque at the Sportsground on Friday (8pm).

Connacht suffered a setback in their preparations for Friday’s Heineken Cup game against Biarritz with the news that captain Gavin Duffy has been ruled out of action for four to five weeks with a hamstring injury.

Connacht head coach Eric Elwood has made three personnel changes up front for Saturday’s RaboDirect PRO 12 meeting with Edinburgh at the Sportsground (5pm).

Lock Mike McCarthy returned to his province Connacht after a impressive display with Ireland over the autumn international series but there is a question mark over his fitness ahead of Saturday’s RaboDirect PRO12 clash with Scottish side Edinburgh at the Sportsground (5pm).

Connacht hooker Ethienne Reynecke has returned from a recent calf injury and is available for Friday's PRO12 trip to face Newport Gwent Dragons at Rodney Parade (KO: 7pm).

Following Saturday's physical Heineken Cup clash with Harlequins, the Connacht Rugby medical team have reported several fresh injury concerns.

The Connacht squad trained in Galway yesterday ahead of Saturday’s round 2 Heineken Cup clash with Harlequins (6pm), with the medical team reporting some injury concerns arising from last Saturday’s away win in Italy.

Connacht coach Eric Elwood is expected to shuffle his pack for tomorrow’s Heineken Cup opener against Zebre in Italy.

The Connacht squad trained in Galway this afternoon ahead of Saturday’s opening Heineken Cup clash with Zebre in Italy (2.45pm) with the medical team reporting a number of injury concerns arising from Friday night’s 25-0 defeat at Ravenhill.

Connacht head coach Eric Elwood has made four changes to his starting XV for Connacht’s second instalment of back-to-back interprovincial ties for as they travel to Ravenhill to take on Ulster on tomorrow (7.05pm).

The Connacht management will be keeping an eye on the progress of several key players struggling with injuries ahead of Friday’s RaboDirect PRO12 meeting with Ulster in Ravenhill (7.05pm).

Eric Elwood has made just three changes for Connacht’s final RaboDirect PRO12 game of the season against Glasgow Warriors in Firhill (kick off: 7.30pm).

Connacht have announced an extended squad to face Glasgow Warriors this weekend for the season finale at Firhill (kick off: 7.30pm).

A calf injury sustained against Ulster has ruled Brett Wilkinson out of Connacht's RaboDirect PRO12 clash with Aironi in The Sportsground on Saturday (5pm).

Connacht 26 Ulster 21