Interview Connacht centre Matt Mostyn: This weekend, all eyes will be on Munster. The visit of Gloucester to Thomond Park has a touch of The Return of the Ring. It promises the ending to end them all. It is box office; Thomond Park is the place to be if January magic is your thing.

Munster have played the eternal boys of winter, full of passion and steam and fury, since the inception of the European Cup that they hold a rare place in the heart of the Irish sporting public. And these days the epic stage performances have an elegiac air to them. So this weekend is theirs.

Therefore, the players from Connacht will know that their endeavours on the continent will not hold the nation transfixed this weekend. On Saturday, they visit the furnace of French rugby, 80 minutes away from a quarter-final place in the Challenge Cup.

Support will be thin on the ground, media coverage lesser still. Alone they stand. With a 22-point margin of victory amassed last weekend, they are primed to advance. But at home, this Pau team believe that nothing is beyond them. What matter 22 points when you have 80 minutes to go?

"And we know they are capable of running up big scores, mate," laughs Connacht's full back Matt Mostyn.

"I was talking to their fitness coach after the game - he was at Begles Bordeaux the same time as myself - and he promised they'd put up 40 against us in France. And I think they beat a few teams by something like 60 points last season.

"But with all due respect, I feel we are a better side than that and to be honest, no team should be capable of beating us by 22 if we are playing anywhere near our potential.

"And it's not as if we going over intent on defending. We are going over to play an expansive game when we can and chalk up another win if possible."

However, the presence of the Ireland defensive coach, Mike Ford, at training this week has certainly been timely. Ford helped the Connacht side devise a system that has frustrated many attacks this season and was scheduled for this week long before the trip to Pau came about.

But with Imanol Harinordoquy and Damien Traille reportedly reinstated to Pau's first team for this all-or-nothing game, Ford's task has surely been made that much harder.

If anything, Mostyn is annoyed that his team aren't travelling to France with a bigger lead. Although he ran in the final try of the day - a beautiful movement following a burst from a scrum by Conor McLoughlin, he remembers opportunities missed.

"And a few mistakes - dropped a ball or two myself. And the pack did ferocious work but we didn't move the ball as we would like - guys like Darren Yapp and Wayne Munn never really got the opportunity to show what they can do. So we weren't exactly thrilled with ourselves. I would allow we played okay but no more."

Mostyn rejoined Connacht at the beginning of the season following a period on the Continent and in Newport. Originally recruited by Warren Gatland, who also capped him for Ireland, he returned to Galway just as last year's threats to dispense with Connacht as a rugby entity were ending.

If anything, that scare and the effervescent presence of coach Michael Bradley has led to a heightened spirit among the players. Connacht may be the unfashionable province but quietly they are forcing the lords of the game to assent that maybe they can play a bit.

That is why a winning run in Europe, albeit in the lesser light of a competition is crucial. Winning the Parker Pen Cup would lead to an automatic place in the Heineken Cup. The exposure that would bring would be of immense help to the west of Ireland game.

"It's true. I mean, it's unbelievable the effort that goes into making the game what it is here but we have a fair way to go," says Mostyn.

"I think already Connacht is regarded by players as a more attractive place to come and showcase talents than it was years before. In the past, maybe guys would have been inclined to sit on the bench in Leinster, say, rather than come here. But that is changing. And winning the Challenge Cup would have a tremendous effect but even if we don't go all the way, I think we are definitely making progress."

As well as the organisation and belief with which Connacht plays every game, a striking feature of their season has been Bradley's rigorous rotation policy. Mostyn, for instance, is comfortable operating at full back, on the wing or at outside centre.

And Bradley has not been afraid to make the brave calls; eyebrows were raised when young David Hewitt started at outhalf instead of the masterful veteran of that trade Eric Elwood. But Hewitt had a cracking 60 minutes before the Galway man came in.

"And Dave has just been flying at training. It helps having someone like Eric has a tutor, you know, such a generous person in terms of wanting to help players along," adds Mostyn.

"But with Brads, the rotation system reflects the faith he has in the entire squad. You don't often see that but what it means is we all feel like we're in this together and I have to say, I'm having a blast here."

The citizens of Pau like their rugby after dark and so kick-off is at 6 p.m. If Connacht get the result they need, they will start the quarter-final series with a visit to either Narbonne or London Irish. But first comes 80 minutes of Gallic terror.

"Oh, they'll throw it all at us," laughs Mostyn. "But I think we're up to it."