Muldoon seeks double celebration

The Irish international back row man was at the helm when his side upset the Blues 18-16 at the Sportsground in Galway and a double on Sunday would be the perfect belated birthday gift.

Muldoon, who was in the Ireland A squad last month for their games against Tonga and Argentina A, turned 27 this week and is looking to make it a double celebration at the Cardiff City Stadium.

"We managed to turn over both the Blues and Scarlets in Galway earlier in the season and we will be sending our very best team to Cardiff this week," said Muldoon.

"We have targeted one of two matches this month and we know the Blues will still be reeling after their defeat at the Sportsground in September. But we firmly believe that on our day we can beat anyone.

"There are no easy games in the Magners League these days and the tournament is really on the up. There are some really exciting youngsters across all three countries. Just look at Rob Kearney, Jamie Heaslip and Jonny Sexton at Leinster and Leigh Halfpenny at the Blues.

"We haven't played a Magners League game for a couple of weeks, so it will be great to get back into it. I see that three of the Blues Welsh internationals will be on duty with the Barbarians at the weekend, so that might well be good for us."

The Blues can ill afford to add to their recent woes in the Magners League - they have lost three of their last four matches in the tournament - and are bound to feel vulnerable with Halfpenny, Jamie Roberts and Andy Powell all away on duty with the Baa-Baas.

Although Connacht have never won in Cardiff in six visits in the Magners League, they will be seeking to alter that record and leapfrog the Blues in an attempt to leave them languishing at the bottom of the table.