Connacht's Champions Cup qualification comes down to the last game of the season, and a win for Andy Friend's side against Glasgow in this last URC round will ensure that target is achieved.
It would be well deserved after a season in which Connacht have delivered to date 10 wins and 62 tries - currently the same as Munster, and the best outside Pat Lam's PRO12 winning season in 2015/16.
However, Glasgow will be no pushovers, and the biggest fear is that a loss could leave Connacht in eighth place, which in normal circumstances would be suficient for Champions Cup rugby. However, as Champions Cup qualification currently provides for the winning team from each pool, it means top Welsh side Cardiff, currently in 11th place, can qualify as Welsh pool winners, taking the place of the eighth finishing team.
"Eighth is not good enough," says Connacht's head coach Pete Wilkins. "It is a quirk of the format of the competition, and thankfully it is going to change next season onwards. I think it is a good thing that it is fully merit based."
However, he says, it is not something Connacht can control, but instead must deliver their performance to give them the best chance of finishing above eighth.
"You would be gutted because of those quirks in how the competition was negotiated. So we have to control the rugby and make sure we finish in fifth, sixth or seventh, and hopefully as high as possible."
John Porch is available for selection having recovered from a calf injury, but former captain and talismanic pack leader Jarrad Butler is sidelined, having suffered an Achilles injury in Connacht's 38-19 over Cardiff. Jack Carty (hamstring ), Finlay Bealham (knee ) and Denis Buckley (ankle ) all trained this week and are available, but Dave Heffernan remains out of action with an ankle injury.
Continued improvements throughout this season have ensured Connacht put themselves in a strong position to qualify, but Wilkins is conscious that the team's defence needs to be better, particularly against a Scottish outfit that currently sits in fourth - nine points ahead - and with a superior points difference. The only team between Glasgow and Connacht is Munster, while the two teams fighting to improve their position are the South African sides, the Bulls and Sharks, nail-bitingly close to Friend's side by just one and three points respectively - thus there is no little room.
As a result Wilkins is looking to improve their defence in a bid to frustrate and close out a Glasgow side with electric page, and coached by former Connacht player/coach Nigel Carolan.
"One of the great strengths of this Glasgow team is their ability to identify space and move the ball to space pretty quickly, so if you do overwork and do leave spaces on the edges or spaces on the other side of the ruck, they will find them and they are empowered to find that space regardless of shape and structure, so we have to be better in that area, and it starts with work off the set piece, from scrums or line-outs, and then our decision making."
Saturday's game is another must-win game.
"We have had that many must-wins games in the context of our URC season - to get ourselves in the top eight, then to stay in the top eight, and now in fifth, sixth or seventh. Every week we have been in that position, and the players have really embraced that - to have something to play for. They would much rather have a week like that, it is something the players have got used to, and it suits this group in helping to push them forward."
Connacht are in a good place, particularly after a 38-19 win over Cardiff - thus having done all they can to get themselves in position, they will not want to slip up in any way.
That sixth win in a row was delivered on the back of a strong opening half in which four tries were scored, while there was an increased organisation and control in their game.
Ahead by 7-0 after 13 minutes, Carty continued to pull the strings, delivering to Denis Buckley and Tom Farrell before Diarmuid Kilgallen finished for the opening try, converted by the outhalf. Six minutes later, and with James Botham, in the bin, hooker Dylan Tierney Martin was the player to touch down after a well-organised drive to the line, and the third was scored when Conor Oliver dives over after a super break from Caolin Blade.
Ahead 19-0, the visitors managed to score before the break with the pack delivering and Seb Davies bagging the try, but the points were always heading Connacht's way when Mack Hansen delivered the fourth try and bonus point with his usual electric pace to make it 26-7 at half-time. Cardiff were able to close the gap, but there was no stopping Connacht on a special night in which they were to farewell a host of players who have delivered for many seasons. And one of those was Kieran Marmion, who coming on as a replacement, delivered the finishing touch with a try as he has done so often to seal a memorable URC season at the Sportsground.
