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Connacht, with 13 points on the RaboDirect Pro 12 table from four outings, face a different and more difficult challenge this evening in Wales. They head to Liberty Stadium knowing the Ospreys are one the strongest and most expensively assembled outfits outside Ireland, at a venue where even achieving a bonus point is always difficult. Still smarting from their bonus-point loss to Edinburgh, which was a missed opportunity, Elwood says there are now bigger challenges ahead. “We have two big games with Ospreys and Leinster away - two very good outfits with big squads so we are under no illusion. We have a tough two weeks before the break.

The final acts of the domestic soccer season will take place in Milebush Park this Sunday with the Connacht Gold Cup and Shield final double header getting under way at 1pm. In the shield final Westport United C will take on Conn Rangers at the home of Mayo football. The men from north Mayo will go in as favourites, having finished the league campaign in fourth place in the second tier of the Mayo League and having seen off the challenge of Westport United B twice in the league. However the United C team had a great season two divisions below picking up 23 points during the league, finishing only three points off the top of the table. Conn Rangers had to overcome Westport United B for a third time this year at the semi final stage and booked their place in the final with a 2-1 win.

Connacht, with 13 points on the RaboDirect Pro 12 table from four outings, face a different and more difficult challenge tomorrow evening in Wales.

Connacht coach Eric Elwood and his management team are challenging Connacht to raise the bar again when they host the Scarlets in their first home match of the Rabo Direct Pro 12 on Saturday (3.15pm). With 3,000 season tickets already sold, and buoyed by Connacht’s hard-fought win over Treviso in last weekend's opener, Elwood says it is important his team builds on that momentum, particularly for this first home fixture. “We are very much driven this year to push on from last year, so it is one game down and 20 game to go. Treviso is behind us and now it is all systems go for Scarlets. This is our first home match, there is pressure on the boys - on all of us - but that’s what we thrive on and all that mattes is four points.” Elwood says his team is not getting carried away by last weekend's victory, but believes the supporters appreciate the value of a win in Treviso. "People realise how hard it is to get a win in Treviso and, given the conditions with temperatures in the mid thirties, we deserved the victory. People will now come on Saturday expecting another big performance and even another win, and it's up to us to deliver it." Elwood is unlikely to make any changes to his starting XV, but will welcome the return of prop Brett Wilkinson on the replacement benches. Wilkinson’s return from injury will be a big boost for the front row which will once again will be tested against a Scarlets outfit that destroyed Aironi last week.

Ireland take on Australia in the Rugby World Cup on Saturday September 17 and you can see the match, raise funds for charity, and meet the Connacht squad all at the same time.

Connacht coach Eric Elwood and his management team are challenging Connacht to raise the bar again when they host the Scarlets in their first home match of the RaboDirect Pro 12 on Saturday (3.15pm).

Dear Connacht Supporters,

Amid speculation that Connacht Rugby has changed its title sponsor in preparation for its opening Heineken Cup campaign, the province has refused to confirm any new deal. Speaking to the Galway Advertiser yesterday, media officer Luke Murphy insisted the club is still exploring a number of avenues: “Negotiations are still ongoing with a number of parties. We are not in a position to confirm a change to our sponsor as of yet. It is possible an announcement might be made next week but as it stands we cannot confirm any details as we still have a number of interested parties. Obviously the Heineken Cup has been a great accelerator for us. We have been able to redevelop the Sportsground here, putting on a roof and it is a significant capital project.”

Newcomers Connacht have the honour of opening this year’s Heineken Cup.