By JOHN FALLON

Connacht will bid to maintain their perfect home record against South African opposition when they entertain the Lions at Dexcom Stadium on Saturday (5.15pm).

Connacht have won all nine games they have played against the South African sides in Galway and will hope to copper-fasten their place in the top half of the table when they entertain the Johannesburg side.

Bundee Aki and Finlay Bealham returned to the fold on Tuesday morning for medical assessment but with both having been given the week off after winning the Six Nations with Ireland at the weekend, Connacht coach Pete Wilkins needs to decide whether they will make their return in Italy or France in the coming weeks.

Wilkins is also confident that Irish winger Mack Hansen, who missed the Six Nations with a shoulder injury picked up against Munster, will be available towards the end of next month for the business end of the season.

Connacht, currently seventh in the URC in a mid-table which sees just five points separate Edinburgh in fourth and the Lions in eleventh, return to league action at on College Road this Saturday when the Lions rock up in Galway.

“Bundee and Finlay and all the national players have this week off in terms of recovery from the Six Nations. Bundee and Finlay have actually been in the building today in terms of medical check-ups and just to touch base, but they have a week’s leave this week and a little bit of rehab and then they will be back with us from next week onwards,” said Wilkins on Tuesday.

Pictured: Connacht mascot Eddie joins with the home fans in welcoming the Connacht players on to the pitch ahead of their most recent home game, which was against the Scarlets back at the start of March. Photo: Joe O’Shaughnessy.