CONNACHT MANAGER ERIC Elwood has spoken of his side’s preparation for their opening Amlin Challenge Cup fixture this Saturday in Italy against Cavalieri Prato.

Cavalieri Prato will be making their European debut after they finished fifth in the Italian top flight last season, and Elwood says there is a definite unknown factor in the Italian side which will make Connacht take them seriously.

“They have a couple of big, good ball carriers, big centres and a solid goal kicker” said Elwood after his scout returned from watching the Italians at their home ground of Stadio Lungobisenzio at the weekend. ”Because it is their first game in Europe they will want to put on a good performance in front of their own fans and we expect them, like all Italian teams, to be very competitive.”

“I am not at all worried that we start away from home but with just the Pool winner going through into the quarter-finals we know we must get off to a winning start.”

Connacht will become the first team to play one hundred Challenge Cup matches this Saturday, and remain the only ever-present club in the competition’s history.

Captain John Muldoon return and Ian Keatley is also making progress according to Elwood.