**Connacht welcome the Toyota Cheetahs to the Sportsground in a tantalising clash between two sides chasing a quarter-final spot.**

Just two points separate the sides in the water-tight Conference A table, meaning that this one looks chocked with narrative ahead of the Saturday tea-time kick-off.

What’s at stake?

There is little to choose between third-place and sixth in Conference A, with Ospreys and Connacht’s 38-points putting them just two ahead of Cardiff Blues and the Cheetahs.

As the Guinnes PRO14 hots up, with just seven rounds of action remaining, both sides will therefore be desperate to steal a march on their opponents and make a charge for the knockouts.

Team news (Connacht)

Andy Friend will be delighted to welcome back Ultan Dillane, Caolin Blade, Jack Carty and Tom Farrell from international duty.

Kieran Marmion also returns to the bench after recovering from injury for a side captained by Jarrad Butler at No8.

Team news (Cheetahs)

Marnus van der Merwe and Dries Swanepoel make their maiden starts for the Cheetahs, Louis Fouche replaces the injured Malcolm Jaer at fullback.

Ox Nche makes his return after missing the derby clash against the Isuzu Southern Kings, while Henco Venter is back in Guinness PRO14 action after his stint with the Toshiba Brave Lupus in Japan.

Talking points:

Connacht head coach Andy Friend said: “Since we played them earlier in the season they have been improving steadily and have the results to show for it.

“They are real contenders in the conference now, so we know the important of this game in the context of the overall season.

“They are a really hard team to play against and even trying to review them can be difficult. They seem to play so off the cuff that it can be difficult to predict what they are going to do next. We know the threat they pose in attack so we will face a huge challenge.”

Toyota Cheetahs head coach Franco Smith said: “We need to learn how to be more focused, specially thinking of the last three tries we stood of against the Southern Kings. We would like to come back from tour with a more experience and apply what we’ve learned so far.

“We have a good team. Players in the team work hard, especially with the new players in the squad. After the last four matches, the hunger is back, the urgency to be the best in their positions – the competitiveness is back and intensity at training is very high.”

Key battle

Tom Farrell v Dries Swanepoel

It was the tightest of contests when these sides last met back in December, with the Irish outfit edging a 21-17 triumph in Bloemfontein.

It was a fixture of fine margins, and Tom Farrell’s try provided one of those crucial turning points.

The talented centre is up against Dries Swanepoel on Saturday, who has just the solitary Guinness PRO14 appearance to his name, and will be charged with keeping quiet a key cog of Connacht’s attack.

Key fact: Connacht Rugby’s only win in the last four rounds of the Guinness PRO14 was 21-12 at home to Ulster on 28 December.

Did you know? Cheetahs are without a win in their last five matches against Irish provinces, since beating Connacht in Bloemfontein in March 2018. The South Africans record on visits to Ireland in Guinness PRO14 is played four lost four.

Connacht: Darragh Leader, Cian Kelleher, Tom Farrell, Tom Daly, Stephen Fitzgerald, Jack Carty, Caolin Blade; Denis Buckley, Tom McCartney, Finlay Bealham, Ultan Dillane, James Cannon, Eoin McKeon, Colby Fainga’a, Jarrad Butler ©

Replacements: Dave Heffernan, Peter McCabe, Dominic Robertson-McCoy, Cillian Gallagher, Paul Boyle, Kieran Marmion, Conor Fitzgerald, Kyle Godwin

Toyota Cheetahs: Louis Fouche, William Small-Smith, Dries Swanepoel, Nico Lee, Rabz Maxwane, Tian Schoeman, Shaun Venter; Charles Marais, Marnus van der Merwe, Aranos Coetzee, Jasper Wiese, JP du Preez, Abongile Nonkontwana, Junior Pokomela, Gerhard Olivier

Replacements: Reinach Venter, Ox Nche, Luan de Bruin, Sintu Manjezi, Walt Steenkamp, Henco Venter, Tian Meyer, Rudy Paige

TV: At The Sportsground, Galway, 5.30pm. Live on Free Sports, TG4, SuperSport, Eir Sports

Referee: Nigel Owens

Assistant Referees: John Lacey, Mike English

TMO: Brian MacNeice

Citing Commissioner: Tim Lowry