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Connacht face a tricky assignment against Benetton Treviso on Saturday (5pm) at the Galway Sportsground, but one they are expected to win. Coach Eric Elwood knows both sides will be targeting this latest Pro 12 fixture which, he says, will ensure Connacht need to be at their best if they want to grab a third victory.

Connacht face a tricky assignment against Benetton Treviso on Saturday (5pm) at the Galway Sportsground, but one they are expected to win.

Connacht are preparing for a massive backlash from English premiership champions Harlequins when Heineken Cup rugby returns to the Galway Sportsground on Saturday.

Greater expectations surround Connacht’s second Heineken Cup campaign which begins tomorrow with a return visit to Italian newcomers Zebre. Having already claimed a RaboDirect Pro 12 win in Parma, Connacht head to Italy knowing what is needed to open this year’s cup campaign is a win. Any thing else will be seen as a backward step for the Irish side which also faces Europe’s third ranked side Biarritz and English champions Harlequins in pool three.

Greater expectations surround Connacht’s second Heineken Cup campaign which begins on Saturday with a return visit to Italian newcomers Zebre.

After 25 years of “living and breathing” Connacht Rugby, coach Eric Elwood has said it is time for a change. In officially announcing on Wednesday evening that he would step down at the end of the season, Elwood said his decision had nothing to do with any “issues” at Connacht Rugby, but for personal reasons. “I have come to this decision after thinking long and hard about what is best for me and also what is best for Connacht. I have given a big part of my life to Connacht Rugby and I feel that it is time for me to have a change and time for the province to have a change as well.”

Ravenhill has rarely been a happy hunting ground for Connacht Rugby - their last victory was in 1960 - and Connacht head to Belfast for tomorrow evening’s fixture on the back of Eric Elwood’s decision to step down at the end of the season.

Connacht will hope that the debut of Dan Parks for the province this evening in the first inter-provincal of the season will be able to give them a springboard to success against Leinster. In the pre-game media build up, Connacht coach Eric Elwood said he was “hopeful” that Parks would make his debut saying, “Dan did some conditioning last week and came through ok, but we will have to see how he backs that up over the week.” But come yesterday’s team announcement Parks made the starting 15 at out-half.

Connacht are still waiting final fitness testing on new signing Dan Parks ahead of tomorrow evening’s first interprovincial fixture of the season.

Connacht Rugby’s away form will be tested this evening when an injury-hit squad faces the Warriors in Glasgow.