Connacht sweating on fitness of several players

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.

Full back Robbie Henshaw and young centre Eoin Griffin both picked up knocks against Zebre and will continue to be assessed ahead of Friday’s lunchtime team announcement.

Ethienne Reynecke, Dave McSharry and George Naoupu are also suffering from knocks and bruises this week.

Fit again Brian Murphy (centre), Eoin McKeon (back row) and TJ Anderson (back row) will all be available for British & Irish Cup selection this weekend when the Connacht Eagles take on the Newcastle Falcons in Dubarry Park on Friday (7.45pm).

Meanwhile, Frank Murphy, Andrew Browne, Gavin Duffy, Dave Nolan, Paul O’Donohoe, Danie Poolman and Kyle Tonetti remain unavailable for selection due to injury.

Connacht will be looking to build on last weekend’s victory with a home win over Conor O’Shea’s Harlequins who they famously beat in the Sportsground last year to mark their first Heineken Cup triumph.