Heading down for this. Are Sheridans bringing a full coach? Any body else heading independently? And where's the best view - East Terrace?

The Connacht Rugby squad trained in Galway this week ahead of their interprovincial clash with Munster Rugby in round 18 of the RaboDirect PRO12.

Head Coach Eric Elwood is happy with the current condition of his squad and looks forward to ‘this important derby clash’.

“We had a week off after the Zebre game so then we had a week of training with no game. We got a lot of quality work done last week. And thankfully the squad is healthy enough. We have a decent squad to choose from.”

Centre Dave McSharry has returned to training and will continue to be monitored ahead of Friday’s team announcement.

International Mike McCarthy will also be available for this week’s fixture following his involvement with Ireland over the last number of weeks.

"We have given Macca a few days off post-Six Nations. We are going to see him on Thursday and we'll assess his injuries, he has been carrying a couple of knocks, so we gave him four days off. It would be nice for us, as Macca is a very good player and he is very important for us. He has got five games left in his Connacht career and we have a lot to play for in those five games.

"But he has been through a tough campaign in the Six Nations and picked up a few knocks and we'll assess him on Thursday.”

McCarthy’s second row partner Michael Swift is still nursing his knee injury and is ruled out of this week’s game.

Kyle Tonetti and Johnny O’Connor are both struggling with ankle injuries and are unlikely to be available as early as this weekend.

Connacht have won four of their last five PRO12 games including victories in their last three matches against Ospreys, Blues and Zebre.

“This is such an important derby match for us. Munster are going to get some of their big dogs back for this week. Obviously they’ll have to rest some of their internationals but it’s still going to be a daunting task for us. We never get anything easy against Munster whether it’s Thomond or whether it’s Cork.

“But the key for us is that we’ve three victories out of our last three games. And we’re going there with a bit of confidence and we’re very much looking to the challenge. “



Munster v Connacht
At Musgrave Park; 5.45pm
Live on TG4

Referee: Alain Rolland (IRFU, 56th competition game)
Assistant Referees: Michael Black, Brian MacNeice (both IRFU)
Citing Commissioner: John West (IRFU)
TMO: Seamus Flannery (IRFU)

I want to say I'm cautiously optimistic about this one? If it wasn't for a few silly mistakes in the home game we would have won, and Connacht are almost at full strength compared to Munster who have been sapped by injury and lost many of their main scoring threats. Added to that Musgrave has not been great for Munster this season. Don't know if the teams have been named yet but I would say the main threats from Munster are Keatley, Stander and O'Donnell. If those threats can be nullified as much as possible then we're half way there. On the flipside Connacht will have to be totally clued in for the full 80, the last two losses to munster came from momentary lapses in concentration rather than being the worse team.

Connacht (9th) return to action this Saturday, taking on provincial rivals Munster (6th), in Musgrave Park in Cork, with only 11 points separating the sides.
Connacht enter the game on the back of a three game winning streak, and have four wins in their last five games.
A win for Connacht will keep alive our hopes of qualifying for the Heineken Cup via the league position.
Unfortunately, our recent history against Munster, and especially away from home makes for pretty terrible reading.

22-12-2012: Connacht 12-16 Munster
24-03-2012: Connacht 16-20 Munster
26-12-2011: Munster 24-9 Connacht
06-05-2011: Munster 22-6 Connacht
26-12-2010: Connacht 12-16 Munster
18-04-2010: Connacht 12-18 Munster
26-12-2009: Munster 35-3 Connacht

In Connachts last three visits to Munster, we have never reached double figures in points (9, 6, 3), while always conceeding more than than 20 (24, 22, 35). This is sure to change this weekend, with try scoring phenom Willie Faloon (and Connacht player of the month for February) looking to add to his three tries in his last two games.

Tom Sheridans Bar in Knocknacarra are running a bus to the match. Tickets cost 100euro and include return bus tickets, match ticket and overnight accomodation

The Connacht Clan are having a get together in Massimos bar in Galway for the game