European Cup Pool B Ulster v Swansea (Ravenhill 2.30)

It's all about redeeming pride for Ulster now. As with Munster's visit of Cardiff, Ulster should not be burdened with an undue inferiority complex from the first game. "It is a winnable one," maintains Ulster coach Davey Haslett. "Our performance in the first match gives us hope."

However, as with Munster-Cardiff, Ulster are met by a Welsh side made all the more determined by a second, unexpected group defeat last week. And so, as Haslett also concedes, Swansea's harder "attitude" will make it "a very difficult game."

Swansea's line-out, in the continuing absence of locks Paul Arnold and Andy Moore, is an Achilles heel but they will further benefit from having captain Garin Jenkins back at hooker and Mark Taylor at centre for youngsters Chris Wells and Hugh Thomas, with Dean Thomas returning at open side for Alan Reynolds (flu). Anthony Clement, tormented by a torn cruciate knee ligament and Achilles tendon for the last two years, returns to the bench.

"We know what we have to do," says coach John Plumtree. "Unless we beat Ulster we are effectively out of the tournament." Mindful of lowering the threshold for the best third place which earns a place in the play-offs, Ulster could conceivably do Munster and, at a pinch, Leinster a favour here (as could Brive in Pontypridd). But Swansea's need is clearly the greater.

Ulster: R Morrow; J Topping, M Jackson, M Field, J Cunningham; S Laing, A Matchett; G Leslie, S Ritchie, R Irwin, T McWhirter, G Longwell, S McKinty (capt), K Gallick, A Ward.

Swansea: M Back; R Rees, M Taylor, S Gibbs, S Davies; A Thomas, A Booth; C Loader, G Jenkins (capt), C Anthony, D Niblo, T Maullin, R Appleyard, P Moriarty, D Thomas.

Formguide: Ulster - L 9-18 v Glasgow (h), L 16-33 v Swansea (a), L 3-56 v Wasps (a). Swansea - L 25-31 v Wasps (h), W 33-16 v Ulster (h), 21-35 v Glasgow (a).

Leading points scorers: Ulster - Stuart Laing 26. Swansea - Arwel Thomas 44.

Leading try scorers: Ulster - Keith Gallick 1. Swansea - Hugh Thomas 2.

Referee: G Hughes (England).

European Conference Pool D Connacht v Nice) (The Sportsground 3.0)

The only one of eight pools in the Conference without one unblemished record and so the most competitive. For Connacht this is a real chance to establish themselves as contenders and they have a score to settle as well, having been "robbed" in the first meeting.

Ironically, there is another English referee here - indeed at all the Irish games today. But, hopefully, theirs will be minor roles. The main game within a game will be a mind game, for if Connacht deny Nice encouragement in the first quarter and put them behind early on then the French might well buckle: recalling their hammering at Franklins Gardens last week.

"We will concentrate on starting well," admits Connacht's Kiwi mensa, Warren Gatland. "They only travelled over yesterday and if we really get into them, in the back of their minds they might start thinking `I wish I was at home', remembering they were hammered last week."

With only their pool winners to go through, points difference could well be worth an extra point going into the final game at Northampton - who made up the difference last week and overtook Connacht by one converted try.

As Gatland also concedes, "we haven't really got a huge amount of firepower. We need things to go our way and really get on top of them; be accurate in everything we do, play the percentages, and hopefully things will come our way."

Training has been a revision in the things Connacht have done well; closing down the opposition around the fringes and in midfield. In a perverse way, the pressure is on Connacht now. With a buzz around town generated by an overdue sporting success story and a big crowd expected, "the guys are getting edgy. I'm just trying to relax them a little. They want it badly."

It's worth remembering where Connacht are coming from. "This is still our test match, the others (wins over Northampton and Begles) were a bonus. This is the one that we targeted."

Nice welcome back out-half Vincent Deauze, scorer of 19 points before being injured in the group opener against Begles, and look to be at fullstrength part from long-term absentee, captain Jean-Francois Tordo.

Connacht: W Ruane; N Barry, P Duignan, M Murphy, N Carolan; E Elwood, C McGuinness; J Maher, B Mulcahy, M Finlay, M McConnell, G Heaslip (capt), J Charlie, B Gavin, S McEntee.

Nice: E Berdeu (capt); R Rolland, F Pomarel, P Phillipe, S Giolitti; V Deauze, C Vidal; A Tolofua, E Dasalmartini, F Camoin, R Bekkal, L Vaitanaki, T Estivant, J Mandie, P Furet.

Formguide: Connacht - W 43-13 v Northampton (h), L 16-20 v Nice (a), W 15-9 v Begles (a). Nice - L 24-25 v Begles (h), W 20-16 v Connacht (h), L 7-66 v Northampton (a).

Leading points scorers: Connacht - Eric Elwood 44. Nice - Vincent Deauze 19.

Leading try scorers: Connacht - Ruane, Duignan, Carolan, McEntee, Murphy 1 each. Nice - Eric Dasalmartini 2.

Referee: S Piercy (England).