GUINNESS PRO12

Treviso v Connacht

Stadio Monigo, Friday, 6.30pm

TG4

Connacht are on the cusp of something few at Christmas ever thought they would witness. For the naysayers who believed Pat Lam’s side would come plunging down the league table, inevitably, precipitously and without ever seeing the top again, they have been proven wrong almost every weekend since the turn of the new year.

Comfortable in second place on the table to Leinster, the trip to Stadio Monigo, would, on the face of it, be a straight forward game, although Lam is aware there are lurking dangers.

Touching distance

Weak as Treviso have shown themselves to be (two wins from 20), there could be one last flicker in the home side as they are still within touching distance of Zebre for the automatic Italian Champions Cup place next season.

Their final match of the league is away to Leinster, so if they are thinking of targeting one of the last two to try and get over the European line in a final heave it has got to be Connacht.

These are heady days but the last Irish province to have fallen to the Italians was Connacht back in 2013. But in what is a beckoning historic moment Lam needs just one point to qualify for the playoffs for the first time since the competition went home and away in the 2003/’04 season.

But the form team of the season want a home advantage and Lam has cautiously, or judiciously, selected his side with the playoffs in mind. Irish centre Robbie Henshaw starts on the bench, while winger Matt Healy suffered a minor back injury last week which rules him out of selection.

Lam has made 10 personnel changes to the team that defeated Munster 13 days ago with Jack Carty and Tiernan O'Halloran both returning from injury. Fionn Carr and scrumhalf John Cooney come in with Lam opting for inexperience in the midfield with an academy partnership of Rory Parata and Peter Robb.

Props Ronan Loughney and Rodney Ah You start in a frontrow. Hooker Tom McCartney with Quinn Roux and Andrew Browne make up a new secondrow partnership. Openside Jake Heenan returns to the backrow from injury with Eoin McKeon shifting to number eight.

“We’re under no illusions when it comes to the challenge we face in trying to secure a semi-final spot in Italy,” said Lam. “Treviso are desperate for points to get them into next year’s Champions Cup. This is their last home game before they travel to play Leinster in the RDS so we know which game they will be targeting for the crucial points.”

Connacht are the only team who have remained in the top four for the entire 22 rounds, which shows that with all of Lam’s chopping and changing, they have remained more consistent than any side despite their lack of international names.

Injured list

Lam has adjusted the team for everyone of their matches since September and this weekend there are 11 names on the injured list.

“With some players returning and unfortunately losing a few others to injury, we see a much-changed team again this week,” he added. “But the expectation remains that those selected have a responsibility. This will give us the best chance to secure the points and some very special outcomes for Connacht rugby.”

TREVISO: J Hayward; A Esposito, L Morisi, A Sgarbi, L Nitoglia; S Christie, E Gori; M Zanusso, O Gega, S Ferrari, F Paulo, T Palmer, F Minto, A Zanni, A Steyn. Replacements: D Giazzon, C Traorè, S Manu, M Fuser, M Lazzaroni, A Lucchese, L McLean, T Iannone.

CONNACHT: T O'Halloran; N Adelolokun, R Parata, P Robb, F Carr; J Carty, J Cooney; R Loughney, T McCartney , R Ah You, Q Roux, A Browne, S O'Brien, J Heenan, E McKeon. Replacements: D Heffernan, JP Cooney, F Bealham, A Muldowney, J Muldoon, C Blade, AJ MacGinty, R Henshaw.

Referee: P Fitzgibbon (IRFU).

Verdict: Connacht win.