Connacht aim to shoot Gunners lights out.

Michael Bradley has made five changes to the side that lost to Cardiff for Friday's Celtic League clash with Edinburgh at the Sportsground (6:30). Although losing to a very strong second half performance by the Blues in Cardiff last Saturday, Connacht will be looking to extend their home winning sequence which currently stands at five.

It will be the first ever floodlit Celtic League match in Galway, and hopefully the lights at the top of the hill draw a big vocal crowd to the Sportsground. It is the first of three Friday night games this month where Connacht supporters will be able to enjoy a unique sporting double bill, at no extra cost, with greyhound racing beginning immediately after the rugby.

In the backline Tom Tierney replaces the injured Chris Keane (groin) with David Slemen coming into the side at full back with Paul Warwick moving to the bench. The final change sees Darren Yapp replace Conor McPhillips on the wing, the former having recovered from a hamstring strain.

In the forwards David Gannon replaces the injured Christian Short, the injury bringing a premature end to Chris's Connacht career as he heads to Franklins Gardens this summer. Chris leaves us with the best wishes and thanks of the supporters for his dedication and commitment to the Connacht cause over the last couple of seasons, hopefully we'll bump into Chris on our travels in the future. Our resident Ginga in chief will be missed, although we are hopeful that Marky McHugh might re-discover his roots. 

Back to team matters and Matt Lacey comes into the side for Michael Swift with John Muldoon reverting to blindside flanker. Irish under 21 lock David McGowan is among the replacements which is great news for rugby within the province as the Sligo native is in line to make his debut for the province.

Connacht: David Slemen; Matt Mostyn, John Hearty, Gavin Williams, Darren Yapp; Mark McHugh, Tom Tierney; Dan McFarland, John Fogarty, Stephen Knoop, David Gannon, Andrew Farley (Captain), John Muldoon, Matt Lacey, Colm Rigney.

Replacement: Joe Merrigan, Adrian Clarke, David McGowan, Michael Swift, Conor O¹Loughlin, Paul Warwick, Conor McPhillips.

Edinburgh: H Southwell, C Paterson (capt), M Di Rollo, P Jorgensen, F Leonelli, P Godman, R Lawson, A Jacobsen, A Kelly, A Dickinson, A Kellock, D Duley, M Mustchin, S Taylor, A Strokosch.

Replacements: K Traynor, D Hewett, F Pringle, A MacDonald, M Blair, A Monro, M Pyke.

Preview

Connacht begin the first of three home matches to end the Celtic League season having won their last five games in all competitions at the Galway Sportsground since losing there to Leinster on 3 December.

Edinburgh Gunners, who have already qualified for next season's Heineken Cup, need just three more league points to ensure that they are the top Scottish side in the Celtic League for the second time in three seasons.

In previous meetings in the Celtic League things could not be more even with Connacht and Edinburgh both claiming three wins apiece. The Gunners won 34-3 at Murrayfield when the two met on 10 September.

Friday 5 May

At Sportsground, 6.30pm.

Referee: Phil Fear (WRU). Touch Judges: Marshall Kilgore (IRFU), Dudley Phillips (IRFU).

HEAD TO HEAD - RECENT MEETINGS

Friday 24 August 2001 (Celtic League) at Sportsground

Connacht 21: Pat Duignan(T) Eric Elwood(C/3P) Des Dillon(T)

Edinburgh Gunners 30: Calvin Howarth(T) Gordon Ross(C/2P) Derrick Lee(T) Duncan Hodge(2C/P) Graham Dall(T)

Saturday 6 September 2003 (Celtic League) at Sportsground Connacht 11: John Fogarty(T) Eric Elwood(2P)

Edinburgh Gunners 3: Ander Monro(P)

Saturday 15 November 2003 (Celtic Cup Semi-final) at Sportsground Connacht 25: Darren Yapp(3T) Eric Elwood(2C/2P)

Edinburgh Gunners 26: Craig Smith(T) Brendan Laney(2T/3C) Derrick Lee(T)

Friday 13 February 2004 (Celtic League) at Meadowbank

Edinburgh Gunners 17: Penalty Try(T) Allan Jacobsen(T) Alistair Warnock(2C/P)

Connacht 32: Darren Yapp(T) Matt Mostyn(T) Conor McPhillips(T) Shane Moore(T) Eric Elwood(3C/2P)

Saturday 16 October 2004 (Celtic League) at Sportsground Connacht 24: Piet Myburgh(T) Matt Lacey(T) Paul Warwick(C/3P) Mark McHugh(P)

Edinburgh Gunners 35: Marcus Di Rollo(T) Todd Blackadder(T) Allan Jacobsen(T) Brendan Laney(T) Simon Webster(T) Chris Paterson(5C)

Friday 4 March 2005 (Celtic League) at Murrayfield

Edinburgh Gunners 13: Craig Smith(T) Phil Godman(C/P) Brendan Laney(P)

Connacht 16: David Slemen(T) Eric Elwood(C/3P)

Saturday 10 September 2005 (Celtic League) at Murrayfield Edinburgh Gunners 34: Simon Webster(T) Penalty Try(T) Allister Hogg(T) Rob Dewey(T) Chris Paterson(T/3C/P)

Connacht 3: Paul Warwick(P)