| Venue: Galway Sportsground Date: Saturday, January 15 Kick-off: 15:15 GMT |
| Coverage: BBC Sport website: Preview, score updates, match report |
Connacht has brought in Matt Healy and Shane Delahunt for the Champions Cup match against Leicester Tigers in Galway.
Healy, Connacht’s all-time record scorer of try, will make his debut this season.
Premiership pacesetters Leicester make 8 changes to the side that lost last weekend to Wasps.
Connacht was defeated 29-23 by Connacht last month. They are now third in Pool B, with the Irish side in sixth.
The Leicester line-up includes Nic Dolly and Joe Heyes, Jasper Wiese and Richard Wigglesworth.
Due to restrictions by the Irish government Covid, Tigers supporters can’t travel to Sportsground.
Borthwick war of Connacht threat
Steve Borthwick, Tigers coach said Connacht were a dangerous team and played some great attacking rugby.
They have a strong forward pack with a hard-working back line and some outstanding players in their backline who play with speed out wide.
“Our fans have been amazing so far this season, both home and away, so it is very disappointing that we won’t have any at the stands Saturday afternoon.”
“Wherever their eyes are, I would like to thank them in advance for their support. We know they are there.”
Leicester suffered their first defeat of the season against Wasps. They now have nine points to spare from Pool B leaders Harlequins or Munster, who are leading their European campaign.
Connacht came into the match buoyed after their URC Derby victory over Munster in New Year’s Day.
Andy Friend, coach of the club, said that “This is a big game and a great opportunity for us. But we’ve been treating it like any other game we want to win.”
“We have grown as a team even in the past month since we visited Leicester. Now it’s about execution and playing as well I know we can.”
Connacht: O’Halloran, Porch, Arnold, Aki, Healy, Carty (capt), Marmion, Burke, Delahunt, Bealham, Dowling, Murray, Prendergast, Oliver, Butler.
Replacements: Heffernan, Tuimauga, Aungier, Dillane, Boyle, Blade, Fitzgerald, Farrell.
Leicester Tigers: Hegarty, Steward, Scott, Socino, Murimurivalu, Burns, Wigglesworth, Genge (capt), Dolly, Heyes, Wells, Green, Chessum, Reffell, Wiese.
Replacements: Clare, Whitcombe, Leatigaga, Manz, van Wyk, van Poortvlietc, Kelly, Saumaki.