Three down and one to go - Connacht are looking for a clean sweep of South Africa's URC teams this season when they face the Cell C Sharks in Durban on Saturday (4pm ).
It will not come easy - the Sharks have lost only once at home this season (to Edinburgh ), while fellow South African outfit Vodacom Bulls forced a draw. And last weekend an understrength Leinster outfit was also beaten in Durban - moving the Sharks into the top four.
As a result Connacht are preparing for a stiffer challenge than last weekend's first visit to the Emirates Lions, but they will take huge encouragement from that 33-30 win, making them only the second team to win on African soil this season.
That achievement should not be underestimated - facing the Lions at altitude and prevailing was a notable victory, based on a defence that was forced to make twice the number of tackles than their opponents. That area of Connacht's game will be tested again this week with the Sharks boasting huge ablity to cut defences open.
And it did take its toll. Bundee Aki is one of three players facing inaction this weekend after suffering "bumps and bruises", while Paul Boyle with a toe injury and prop Jack Aungier with HIA, have been restricted in training this week.
Senior coach Pete Wilkins says, however, no one has been ruled out, but the trio are on "light duties" and were due to be tested yesterday, while the good news is the availability of prop Finlay Bealham, who has "bounced back" from a head knock.
Wilkins says Connacht were able to enjoy "collective satisfaction" in that victory, particularly after the dismal result against Leinster in the Aviva.
"Not too many teams have won on African soil, so that is an achievement we have to respect, but at the same time, the review was as if Connacht had lost," he says, "needing to improve the things we could have controlled better, needing to look more ways for this group to grow in the medium and long term, but also in the short term so we are better against the Sharks, knowing this weekend's opponents would probably punish us more severely."
Wilkins says despite the altitude change, the players had "bounced back better and quicker than expected", despite tough training earlier in the week.
However, the Sharks, he says, are a different propostion, boasting "real power and effectiveness from their set piece game which will be an enormous challenge".
"It is one the lads are excited about, having had a taste of it against the Lions. It is also an area the Sharks will be comfortable, to take the game down that route, while they have an electrifying back three - guys who have pace and power that if you don't kick-chase well or have too many one-on-one in defence, they can certainly tear teams apart, and we saw that against Leinster.
"There are not many teams which show you the way in terms of attack against them, but we feel we have elements of our game we feel will be effective, particularly aspects of which we practiced this week. If can get that detail right at the weekend we can cause them some problems."
It would be a huge achievement to prevail in Durban - the only team in the URC this season to do so - and that is a huge incentive for Andy Friend's men, but the Sharks' ability to cut defences open, led by Makazole Mapimpi, will require a huge defensive effort. Conversely, Connacht will feel they have the ability to do the same, and it will be interesting if Mack Hansen, having played at fullback last weekend, is redeployed to the wing where he is more effective in exploiting space to score.
Last weekend they produced a gutsy display against the Lions, all the more significant having coped with injuries.
"We had our battles out there to keep 15 on the park,” Friend said. “Credit to the boys' attitude. We’ve had lots of performance that haven’t resulted in wins, and lots of disappointment, but at the same time , never doubt the fire and energy within the group.
Connacht delivered the necessary fast start, but they were unable to take advantage - spurning two great try scoring opportunities which could have put them out of sight. As result the Connacht resilience came to the fore in the final 20 minutes to eke out a satisfying victory.
Cian Prendergast's second minute try converted by Jack Carty set the tone, and it got better when Connacht were awarded a penalty try after eight minutes with prop Run Dreyer yellow carded for pulling down the maul.
While Connacht spurned an opportunity for goal, Jordan Hendrikse opened the side’s account with a penalty, and it was not until the 38th minute the stalemate was broken when right wing Maxwane produced a timely try to close the gap to 8-14 at the break.
Both sides exchanged penalties before Carty kept Connacht’s noses in front with another three-pointer. But as altitude started to take its toll, the home outfit raised the stakes and took advantage of a napping Connacht. when Morne van den Berg broke through for a converted try, but once again Carty was successful off the tee to keep his side in front with 20 minutes remaining.
Crucially Connacht were next to score from a penalty to touch when Aki found his midfield partner Tom Daly who spun out of two tackles for the third try, with Carty adding the extras. The hosts nailed two more tries to level, but Carty, having missed a penalty, showed great composure to slot the winner.
