By JOHN FALLON

NEXT week’s URC clash with Ulster at the Sportsground could be a season-defining game and that fixture is the main priority this week as Connacht prepare to travel to crisis-stricken Brive in the Challenge Cup.

The main fitness concern is around Irish winger Mack Hansen who suffered a leg injury in the URC win over Benetton the weekend before last.

He’s expected to return to full training next week and Connacht will be keeping their fingers crossed that the World Rugby’s Breakthrough Player of the Year nominee will be fit to take on Ulster.

Hansen has been ruled out of the Challenge Cup trip to Brive this Friday but was unlikely to be brought in any event as Andy Friend continues to blood players in the secondary European competition.

Friend said they need to keep the URC game against Ulster on Friday week in mind as they plan their trip to Brive, but he’s pleased he now has depth.

“We’ve got Brive but also Ulster as well so you want to get the balance right between rewarding some and then bringing others back who you may use for Ulster, trying to keep them all humming,” said Friend.

Connacht will hope that Ulster, who face Champions Cup holders La Rochelle this weekend in Belfast after their shocking 39-0 loss away to Sale Sharks, will be vulnerable when they come to Galway for the December 23 showdown.

It will be Connacht’s final derby match for the season at the Sportsground and the fear is that crowds could dip for the remainder of the URC campaign unless they are bidding for a place in the Champions Cup.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

Connacht Tribune Digital Edition App

Download the Connacht Tribune Digital Edition App to access to Galway’s best-selling newspaper.

Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.

Or purchase the Digital Edition for PC, Mac or Laptop from Pagesuite  HERE.

Get the Connacht Tribune Live app
The Connacht Tribune Live app is the home of everything that is happening in Galway City and county. It’s completely FREE and features all the latest news, sport and information on what’s on in your area. Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.