Cardiff Blues head coach Danny Wilson admits the pride Connacht show at the Sportsground will make it difficult for his side to return home to Wales with the win tomorrow night.

The Blues have lost their last seven away fixtures and have tasted victory in Ireland just once since January 2013 – although that was in Galway during the 2013/14 GUINNESS PRO12 campaign.

Connacht have beaten the Blues just once in their last 11 matches against each other but Wilson expects an extremely difficult encounter come 5pm tomorrow.

Wilson said: "We go to a very tough venue and very tough opposition in Connacht to try to get a win. The boys are motivated and excited about the trip.

"Connacht are a good side who are well coached by Pat Lam and well organised; at home they are a very hard side to beat.

"They are a passionate side at home and are proud of their home venue – it's a difficult away fixture for us in the middle of four difficult away fixtures in Ireland.

"It's not a game we take lightly at all and we've prepared well and we're looking forward to getting out there. It will be a real achievement if we can come away with a win."

The Blues scored 11 tries in round one against Zebre but then slipped up 23-15 at Leinster the following week.

Wilson will give wing Richard Smith and second row Lou Reed their first starts in the GUINNESS PRO12 this season against Connacht.

The third change to the XV comes in the shape of Ellis Jenkins at openside flanker, with captain Josh Navidi moving to blindside and Josh Turnbull at No.8.

Wales hooker Matthew Rees could make his first appearance of the season from the bench and he is joined among the replacements by highly-rated prop Dillon Lewis.

Connacht head coach Pat Lam has also made three changes to his side.

Finlay Bealham comes into the front row for his first start of the GUINNESS PRO12 season to replace Rodney Ah You, who picked up a hamstring injury during the week.

Eoin McKeon returns at No.8 and Ireland international Kieran Marmion will start at scrum half.

There is plenty of experience on the replacements bench in the shape of forwards Aly Muldowney and George Naoupu, while Academy prop Conan O’Donnell is named in the match day squad for the first time.

The 19-year-old from Sligo was voted Connacht Under-19 Player of the Year last season and has nine Ireland Under-20 caps from this year’s Six Nations and World Rugby Championship competitions.

Lam said: “The boys can’t wait to get back out and play again tomorrow and having our home support behind us will certainly help in our fight for points.

“Cardiff are a good side who have had a similar start to the season as us. We’ve both had a little more time to prepare for this game than normal schedules would allow so it’s certainly set up to be a lively encounter.”

Connacht started their GUINNESS PRO12 season with a 29-23 win at home to Newport Gwent Dragons, before being edged out 33-32 at Glasgow Warriors – just the third time they have picked up a losing bonus and try bonus point in the same game.

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At Sportsground, 5pm.
Referee: Neil Hennessy (WRU, 22nd competition game)
Assistant Referees: Keiran Barry, Paul Haycock (both IRFU)
Citing Commissioner: Gordon Black (IRFU)