Connacht v Toulon: Teams

Connacht will be gunning for a place in the Amlin Challenge Cup final when they meet a star-studded Toulon at the Sportsground on Friday.

Just 80 minutes now separates the Western Irish province from a possible Kingsholm showpiece against either Wasps or Cardiff Blues and that is why they have rolled out all of their big guns.

After a disappointing Magners League loss to the Scarlets, head coach Michael Bradley has recalled plenty of his first-choice players who will be led by flanker John Muldoon.

However the Irish province will be missing Ray Ofisa after the forward suffered from a case of vertigo following the defeat in Wales.

Meanwhile, a half-back combination of Frank Murphy and Ian Keatley is set to go up against Pierre Mignoni and Jonny Wilkinson as Gavin Duffy, Troy Nathan and the promising Fionn Carr form what needs to be a solid back-three.

Connacht face a tough task against the tournament favourites, whose squad is strong enough that Sonny Bill Williams can be left on the bench.

Joe van Niekerk leads a teak-tough pack, featuring two monsters at prop in Tonga La'eatoa and Saimone Taumoepeau, as well as two seasoned internationals in the back row in captain Joe van Niekerk and Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe.

Out wide, England's Wilkinson, outed this week as French club rugby's highest basic wage-earner, marshals a line which ends with Fijian flyer Gabriel Lovobalavu on one side and highly-rated youngster Clement Marienval on the other.

Luke Rooney starts at full-back, after he was apparently offered a new contract to stay at the club this week rather than going to Worcester.

Connacht: 15 Gavin Duffy, 14 Troy Nathan, 13 Niva Ta'auso, 12 Aidan Wynne, 11 Fionn Carr, 10 Ian Keatley, 9 Frank Murphy, 8 George Naoupu, 7 Johnny O'Connor, 6 John Muldoon (capt), 5 Michael McCarthy, 4 Michael Swift, 3 Jamie Hagan, 2 Sean Cronin, 1 Brett Wilkinson.
Replacements: 16 Adrian Flavin, 17 Ronan Loughney, 18 Bernie Upton, 19 Mike McComish, 20 Conor O'Loughlin, 21 Miah Nikora, 22 Brian Tuohy, 23 Robbie Morris.

Toulon: 15 Luke Rooney, 14 Gabriel Lovobalavu, 13 Mafi Kefu, 12 Tom May, 11 Clement Marienval, 10 Jonny Wilkinson, 9 Matt Henjak, 8 Juan Fernandez Lobbe, 7 Thomas Sourice, 6 Joe van Niekerk (capt), 5 Esteban Lozada, 4 Jocelyn Suta, 3 Tonga Leaaetoa, 2 Phillip Fitzgerald, 1 Saimone Taumoepeau.
Replacements: 16 Sebastian Bruno, 17 Bwnjamin Basteres, 18 Tim Ryan, 19 Kris Chesney, 20 Olivier Missoup, 21 Jeremy Sinzelle, 22 Pierre Mignoni, 23 Sonny Bill Williams.