Monday 25 April 2016 16:19, UK
Connacht have been dealt a double blow after key players Denis Buckley and Bundee Aki picked up injuries.
Prop Buckley has been ruled out of Friday's game in Treviso as well as the crunch final home clash against champions Glasgow Warriors after fracturing an ankle in training.
That has led to assumptions he will miss the rest of the season, although head coach Pat Lam is trying to remain upbeat.
"Looking ahead realistically, there is the semi-finals, four weeks away, and the final is five weeks away," Lam told The42.
"Denis has always been miraculous with his recovery but we have got to prepare that he is finished for the season. But you never know. It all happened on Friday, so it's just unfortunate.
"It was innocuous, it wasn't even a contact drill. One of the players fell down going for the ball and his leg was in the wrong place. It's unfortunate but we just have to move on."
Aki is also ruled out of the trip to Treviso with a knee problem, although Lam is hopeful he might recover for the Glasgow game.
"He is definitely unavailable for Treviso this week and he will continue his progress under the supervision of the medical and fitness teams. So at this stage, we are hopeful for the Glasgow game," added Lam.
Connacht require one more point to be guaranteed a first ever semi-final spot in the Pro12 and go into the weekend level on points with leaders Leinster.
They will be without Irish tighthead Nathan White, though, who is continuing to recover from a concussion picked up in the win over Leinster.
But Lam is boosted by the return to training this week of full-back Tiernan O'Halloran, fly-half AJ MacGinty and back rower Jake Heenan.
