By JOHN FALLON

Connacht are hoping for just a fourth league win of the season on Saturday when they welcome the Cardiff Blues to the Sportsground (7.35pm, Premier Sports/S4C), ahead of a rematch between the sies in early April in the Challenge Cup.

Connacht go into the game sitting third from bottom with seven defeats from 10 games, and looing for a first league win in five games. Their last victory in the UCR was back on October 26 with a 31-7 win at home to the Dragons, but since then they have lost to the Bulls and Ulster at home, to and Leinster and Glasgow away.

The availability of six players from the extended Irish international squad – Jack Aungier, Caolin Blade, Cathal Forde, Shayne Bolton, Ben Murphy, and skipper Cian Prendergast – is a boost as they meet a Cardiff side who will be back in Galway in April for a Round of 16 Challenge Cup knockout match.

The half dozen Connacht players who have not seen any action in Ireland’s opening two games in the Six Nations were released back to the province for this weekend’s URC clash with Cardiff.

Bundee Aki, Finlay Bealham, and Mack Hansen remain in the Irish camp but the availability of the other six is a big boost, though Hansen did attend training this week, having missed last Sunday’s game with Scotland due to a hamstring injury,

Wilkins is also boosted by the return from injury of Hugh Gavin (ankle), Andrew Smith (thumb), Denis Buckley (thigh), Darragh Murray (Achilles), and Shane Jennings (ankle) for what will be a dress rehearsal for the Challenge Cup knockout clash between the sides on Saturday April 5.

Back rower Sean O’Brien has been ruled out for most of the season after undergoing surgery on a hamstring issue which will sideline him for three months.

Hooker Eoin de Buitlear has suffered a thumb fracture playing for Corinthians in the AIL, and a return date for the Connemara native is yet to be established.

Cardiff were on a four game unbeaten run in the URC before losing 42-22 at home to the Sharks three weeks ago.

Their only loss in their last four away games in the Championship was on their visit to Edinburgh in Round 5 back in October, but on the flip side, their only victory in Galway in the last decade was a 17-15 victory in September 2017.

Pictured: Cian Prendergast has been released back to Connacht from the Irish set-up for Saturday’s URC game with Cardiff. Photo: Joe O’Shaughnessy.