Preview - ECC Pool Five, round five

Kick-off times are local

The top two are playing the bottom two, and they are doing it at home.

CONNACHT v MONTPELLIER
Saturday January 14, Sportsground, 14:00

Montpellier's team features several changes from that which defeated Catania in round four, with Italian international Alessandro Stoica added to the centres. Harley Crane replaces Sebastian Buada at scrum-half as well.

Up front, there are starts for back-rowers Michel Macurdy and Cedric Matrhieu instead of Jaharay Russell and Vassili Bost, and in the front row, Clément Baïocco and Nicolas Grelon replace Julien Brugnaut and Olivier Diomande at prop and hooker respectively.

Meanwhile, for Connacht, Stephen Knoop, captain Andrew Farley and centre John Hearty have all been named in the starting line up for the must win game and barring any recurrence of their respective injuries at the training run tomorrow, will all start on Saturday.

Two wins and a bonus point in their remaining games against Montpellier and Catania away will secure Connacht a place in the quarter finals of this competition for the fourth successive year.

Connacht: 15 Matt Mostyn, 14 Ted Robinson, 13 John Hearty, 12 Keith Mathews, 11 Conor McPhillips, 10 David Sleman, 9 Chris Keane, 8 Colm Rigney, 7 Matt Lacey, 6 John Muldoon, 5 Andrew Farley (c), 4 Christian Short, 3 Stephen Knoop, 2 John Fogarty, 1 Ray Hogan.
Replacements: 16 Joesph Merrigan, 17 Adrian Clarke, 18 Michael Swift, 19 Brendan O'Connor, 20 Tom Tierney, 21 Paul Warwick, 22 Mark McHugh.

Montpellier: 15 David Bortolussi, 14 Sébastien Logerot, 13 Murphy Taele, 12 Alessandro Stoica, 11 Laurent Arbo, 10 Régis Lespinas, 9 Harley Crane, 8 Michel Macurdy, 7 Cédric Mathieu, 6 Martín Durand, 5 Mamuka Gorgodze, 4 Mickaël Bert,  3 Clément Baïocco,  2 Nicolas Grelon, 1 Sébastien Petit
Replacements: 16 Olivier Diomande, 17 Nicolas Descamps, 18 Samuel Nouchi, 19 Jérôme Vallée, 20 Sébastien Buada, 21 Frédéric Charrier, 22 Frédéric Benazech

Referee: Wayne Barnes (England)
Touch judges: Andrew Small, Roger Baileff (both England)
Match commissioner: Pat Barriscale

WORCESTER v CATANIA
Saturday January 14, Sixways, 14:00

Worcester have named precisely the same team that lost in the thriller at Connacht in round four, with Pat Sanderson captaining the side.

Catania have made four changes to the team that lost at home to Montpellier in December, two in the backs and two up front.

Alessandro Pinna is on the wing instead of Emanuel Viassiolo, and Andrea Romagnoli is in at twelve in place of Juan Cosa.

Up front prop Gallo Alvarez replaces Sebastian Leviggi and flanker Mariano Lorenzetti is in for Matteo Foshi.

Worcester Warriors: 15 Nicolas le Roux, 14 Uche Oduoza, 13 Thomas Lombard, 12 Simon Whatling, 11 Thinus Delport, 10 Shane Drahm, 9 Matthew Powell, 8 Drew Hickey, 7 Pat Sanderson (captain), 6 Kai Horstmann,  5 Craig Gillies, 4 Tim Collier, 3 Chris Horsman, 2 Chris Fortey, 1 Tony Windo
Replacements: 16 Steven Sparks, 17 Lee Fortey, 18 Ed O'Donoghue, 19 Johnny Tuamoheloa, 20 Andy Gomarsall, 21 James Brown, 22 Dale Rasmussen

Catania: 15 Mauro Commuzzi, 14 Alessandro Pinna, 13 Mauro Estomba, 12 Andrea Romagnoli, 11 Benjamin de Jager (captain), 10 Barry Irving, 9 Juan Cruz Viassiolo, 8 Siaki Tukino, 7 Mariano Lorenzetti, 6 Alejandro Krancz, 5 Juan Pablo Lagarrigue, 4 Mario Privitera, 3 Federico Condorelli, 2 Diego Vidal, 1 Gallo Alvarez.
Replacements: 16 Sebastian Levaggi, 17 Massimiliano Vinti, 18 Marco Suaria, 19 Salvatore Carbone, 20 John Grasso, 21 Francesco Fala Pappelardo, 22 Massimiliano Gravagna.

Referee: Peter Allen (Scotland)
Touch judges: John Steele, David Anderson (both Scotland)
Match commissioner: Christopher Quinlan (England)