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Connacht have been forced to make a couple of changes for their first away match in this season’s second Magners League fixture.

It has the hallmarks of a season-defining fixture, although it is only the fourth fixture. The two sides that are expected to battle for the last of three Heineken Cup places meet in this crunch Magners League fixture at the Galway Sportsground tomorrow (8pm). In the Irish pecking order it has always been Ulster which has grabbed that last place, and after Connacht’s loss in Edinburgh, there was nothing to suggest it would be otherwise. But last weekend’s spirited victory over Cardiff has provided Connacht with a much-needed confidence boost, and now Connacht coach Michael Bradley says it is vital his squad turns over Ulster if his side is to qualify for Europe.

Pressure is mounting on Connacht to produce a winning result when they host Llanelli Scarlets at the Galway Sportsground (6.30pm) in tomorrow night’s final match befor the break for the Guinness internationals.

Rugby

•Anthony Testa of West Coast Wheelers had a storming ride in the second round of the Kearney Cycles Connacht Mountain Bike League in Westport on Sunday when he rode to victory in the Experts’ class, beating Connacht champion Padraig Marrey (Western Lakes CC) into second place. The race was over five rounds and Testa was well ahead after three but then was passed by Marrey when his chain broke. Amazingly he sorted out the chain, set off in pursuit, and was first to cross the line two laps later, aided by Marrey having his own mechanical problems. The next round is in Derroura, outside Oughterard, on November 22.

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The odds may be stacked against Connacht when they face Cardiff at the new Cardiff City Stadium on Sunday (3pm), but they will travel with confidence and a greater sense of belief.

Magners League has announced that it is extending the deadline in its search for the country’s first professional spokesfan, where one lucky job-seeker is to become the ‘Magners League Professional Fan’ for this current season 2009/10.

The annual Christmas interprovincial clash between Connacht and Ulster is once again expected to produce a cracker contest when the two sides meet in Thomond Park on St Stephen’s Day (7.30pm). Connacht, on the back of their unbeaten European form, versus a Munster side that crushed French champions Perpignan at the weekend.

Connacht head to Worcester for Saturday’s Amlin Challenge Cup fixture - the first of two back-to-back clashes which are expected to decide who advances to the quarter-finals. With only the five pool winners qualifying, where they will be joined by three Heineken Cup group runners-up, Connacht are in the driving seat at this stage of the competition.