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.

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.

Connacht coach Michael Bradley continues his rotation policy with four changes for their Parker Pen Challenge Cup second round visit of French club Pau to the Sportsground on Saturday.

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).

LEO CULLEN may have missed out on the World Cup but Leinster coach Gary Ella is delighted to have him back as Leinster captain for the visit of Edinburgh to Donnybrook this evening.

Connacht coach Michael Bradley has left one place vacant on the side to play Glasgow in Friday night's televised clash at Hughenden.

Leinster's Andy Dunne, on his way to Harlequins in London, has been selected at out-half for Clontarrf in the AIL final at Lansdowne Road on Saturday.

WILD celebrations in Castle Avenue. The AIL has certainly mattered in this part of North Dublin this year. Clontarf have looked like the best team in the competition and, when the chips came down with the rain on Saturday, they proved it, beating Buccaneers 20-6

Galwegians 16, Clontarf 34

All Ireland league teams named for weekend

Connacht 3 Leinster 25

FORMER captain Justin O’Connell will try to give UL/Bohemians a timely AIB League boost at Lakelands tomorrow.

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.

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

MUNSTER’S three new signings will all play their club rugby in Limerick this year with Eddie Halvey returning to play his club rugby with Shannon, Dominic Malone teaming up with UL Bohemians and Australian prop Simon Kerr joining Garryowen.

TWO former internationals are preparing for a battle to get back into the international scene.

Clontarf needed just a bonus point to book their place in the semi-finals, but they did it in style with a 28 points winning margin at the home of the All-Ireland League champions.