Connacht will be on their travels for the final time this season when they take on Newport Gwent Dragons in Newport on Friday night in the Magners League.

The 18-6 loss away to Ulster at the weekend has left Connacht with little chance of making it to the Heineken Cup, although victory over the Dragons would keep alive their slim hopes of making it through the play-offs.

Connacht coach Michael Bradley is unlikely to make many changes from the side which battled well against Ulster, although Troy Nathan could be poised to make his first start at out-half.

Connacht performed well in Ravenhill on Friday night but once again failed to make that count where it matters most and the teams were deadlocked at 3-3 at the break.

Andy Dunne gave Connacht a 14th minute lead with a penalty but Niall O'Connor equalised two minutes from the break.

Connacht enjoyed plenty of possession after the restart but Andy Dunne was unable to convert a brace of penalties before Ulster's Tom Court got in for the first try, which was converted by Paddy Wallace.

Replacement out-half Troy Nathan reduced the deficit with a penalty eight minutes from the end after a ten-minute siege inside the Ulster 22 but the home side sealed victory when Matt McCullough crossed with two minutes left in front of a crowd of 9,248.

The Dragons have a couple of games in hand and are eight points clear of Connacht so a victory for them would ensure they will at least make it to the Heineken Cup play-off spot but they have designs on pipping the Ospreys to one of three automatic Welsh spots.

Connacht defeated the Dragons 22-7 back in September when Tim Donnelly — now likely to be out until later this year — 17 points, including the conversion of a Robbie Morris try.

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