Connacht team to face Ospreys

The men in green will travel to Liberty Stadium on Saturday to face fifth placed Ospreys where a win over the Welsh outfit would ensure Connacht regain their best ever finish of eight in the league.

Up front, 23-year-old hooker Dave Heffernan will pick up his first start of the season in Connacht colours, replacing the injured Jason Harris-Wright. Mayo-born Heffernan has made 11 appearances from the bench in this PRO12 campaign, scoring a last minute try against Munster in Thomond Park.

Heffernan is joined in the front row by Loosehead Prop Denis Buckley whose introduction to the starting XV sees Ronan Loughney switch over to Tighthead while Rodney Ah You, who has featured in every game this season, moves to the replacements bench.

Andrew Browne is named to start at blindside flanker while his fellow Galway-born teammate and captain John Muldoon shifts to Number 8. Conor Gilsenan will earn his second PRO12 start for Connacht after his starting debut last weekend as a late replacement for the injured Willie Faloon.

Aly Muldowney and Mick Kearney retain their positions in the second row, completing the all-Irish pack.

In the backs, there is a reshuffle at centre as Dave McSharry returns to Inside Centre, with Eoin moving outside him. 20-year-old Robbie Henshaw, who will be joining up with the squad late on Saturday morning due to a family commitment, is named amongst the replacement backs.

On the bench, Academy scrum half Caolin Blade is included in the senior match day squad for the first time. 20-year-old Blade has just completed his first year under Nigel Carolan in the Academy. The Monivea man has been involved with Ireland at under age level and this year has put in impressive performances with the Connacht Eagles.

19-year-old sub-Academy hooker is once again called onto the replacements bench after earning his first senior cap against Munster at the Sportsground last month.

Commenting on the upcoming game, Pat Lam said:

"Ospreys will of course be hurting from the fact that they didn't make the playoff position after a very good season. With the defeat to Zebre last week, they will want to finish off their season with a good win in front of their home fans.

"Playing them in their back yard has always been a challenge for us. We haven't won over there in ten years. No one will give us a chance but it's up to us to change the record.

"We spoke this week about not seeing this as just our last game. It is another time we pull on the Connacht jersey with pride and a huge opportunity to improve ourselves and finish the season as high up as we can."

Connacht line-up v Ospreys
15. Darragh Leader
14. Danie Poolman
13. Eoin Griffin
12. Dave McSharry
11. Matt Healy
10. Miah Nikora
9. Kieran Marmion
1. Denis Buckley
2. Dave Heffernan
3. Ronan Loughney
4. Aly Muldowney
5. Mick Kearney
6. Andrew Browne
7. Conor Gilsenan
8. John Muldoon (captain)

Replacements:
16. Jack Dinneen
17. Finlay Beahlam
18. Rodney Ah You
19. Michael Swift
20. Eoin McKeon
21. Caolin Blade
22. Dan Parks
23. Robbie Henshaw

Unavailable/Injured: Jason Harris-Wright, Nathan White, Sean Henry, James Rael, Craig Clarke, Willie Faloon, Jake Heenan, Tiernan O'Halloran, and Paul O'Donohoe.

Ospreys v Connacht
At Liberty Stadium, 6.30pm.
Live on BBC Wales
Referee: Andrew McMenemy (SRU, 29th competition game)
Assistant Referees: TBC
Citing Commissioner: Dennis Jones (WRU)
TMO: TBC

ENDS