Connacht director of coaching Eric Elwood admits his side’s defence will have to be on top form if they are to get anything out of their match against the Scarlets in the RaboDirect PRO12 on Friday evening.

The Irish team have traditionally struggled on trips to Wales, with their last win in Llanelli coming back in 2004.

Connacht have only claimed victory once in 18 visits to the Principality since 2008, and their cause will not be helped by facing a Scarlets side who got back to winning ways in their last outing with a 40-19 triumph over Leicester Tigers in the LV= Cup.

“It's a place where we have always struggled, so it is a daunting prospect,” said Elwood. “The Scarlets are full of beans having put 40 points on Leicester, but we finished the Heineken on a high, so we need to take that confidence to Wales.”

Connacht have been boosted by the return of skipper Gavin Duffy and flankers John Muldoon and Willie Fallon – although they are missing full-back Robbie Henshaw, Mike McCarthy and Dave McSharry on Ireland duty.

The Scarlets have also lost players to the weekend’s Six Nations fixtures, but Elwood insists that will make no difference.

“We have gone over there in the past when they have had their top players missing and we have been at full strength, and lost,” said Elwood, whose side beat Zebre 25-20 in their last game.

“They have a huge squad, but if we can get off to a good start in this block of nine and get something out of this match, it will be a good start.”

Elwood’s counterpart at Parc y Scarlets, Simon Easterby, is equally wary of the threat posed by Connacht despite the Irish side lying tenth in the table.

"It's a big game for us, Connacht are a well-coached side and are very competitive, they have some quality players in their ranks and experience in key positions like Dan Parks at ten,” he said.

“They can also build continuity in their side at this period of the season, without losing so many internationals as us.”

With the Scarlets missing a host of players to both international duty and injury, Easterby was thrilled to see some of the province’s younger stars step up to the plate in the win over Leicester, with momentum vital if the Llanelli side are to break back into the RaboDirect PRO12 top four.

"It's been really positive for us to work off the back of a good performance and winning result last weekend,” said Easterby.
“The boys have been feeling good this week and it really helps give an extra edge when you come in off the back of a win like that.

"This is the first of four very important games for us in our play-off ambitions; there is still a lot of rugby left and teams right through the league table can easily ramp up points during these period so we have to make these next four games count.

"We have to set a platform ourselves in this next block of games and the players know full well what we need to achieve over the next few weeks. The good thing is that we have seen some real ambition from some of our emerging players in the past fortnight; they have really stepped up and that's a real positive for the Scarlets squad."

At Parc y Scarlets , 7.30pm.
Referee: Matteo Liperini (FIR, 3rd competition game)
Assistant Referees: James Jones, Alan Jenkins (both WRU)
Citing Commissioner: Denis Jones (WRU)