Pat Lam forced to plan without Denis Buckley and Bundee Aki

Connacht will be without two influential players for Friday’s Guinness Pro12 meeting with Treviso with both Denis Buckley and Bundee Aki sidelined through injury.

Buckley suffered an ankle fracture in training and is ruled out for a “number of weeks”, according to coach Pat Lam.

However Lam is hopeful the inspirational Aki will have recovered from the knee injury sustained in the win over Munster to face Glasgow in the final round fixture in Galway.

“Denis is a big loss for us. Losing Nathan White and Denis has an impact on our front rowers,” said Lam ahead of Friday’s meeting in Italy.

“It wasn’t even a contact drill — one of the players fell down going for the ball and Denis’ leg was in the wrong place. He has always been miraculous with his recovery, but it looks that he is finished for the season, but you never know. It’s just unfortunate, but we have to move on.”

However Lam is hoping Aki will make a speedy return to action.

“He’s trying to run around now and we are trying to hold him back,” said Lam.

“We’d be hopeful for the Glasgow game, it depends on the next week, how fast he progresses.

“It’s not ideal, but we have faced that challenge many times throughout the year and we have confidence in the next guy who steps up.”

“Without a doubt coming to the end of the season, Denis would be a contender for the forward of the year and Bundee for one of the backs of the year.

“The consistency of their performances throughout the season has been fantastic.”

Ben Marshall and White continue to be managed for respective head injuries, but there is good news in the Connacht camp with the return of fullback Tiernan O’Halloran, out-half AJ MacGinty, and open side Jake Heenan.