'All the pressure is on them' - Connacht embracing underdogs tag ahead of Leinster visit

Connacht head coach Andy Friend is attempting to deflect the pressure onto Leinster for Friday night's Heineken Champions Cup last 16 first leg at the Sportsground.

The Australian says his side have "nothing to lose" in what will be the province's first ever Champions Cup knockout game.

In a boost, Friend has more than 40 players fit and available for the first leg this Friday.

Loosehead Denis Buckley and hooker Shane Delahunt are both ruled out through injury, while Tom Daly is suspended following his red card against the same opposition 10 days ago in the URC.

The centre will be available for the return leg at the Aviva Stadium, while Buckley could also be in contention to be fit for that, with the 31-year-old currently nursing a calf injury.

Bundee Aki is also set to return to the Connacht side this week for the first time since January, while Mack Hansen, Jack Carty and Finlay Bealham made their comebacks from Six Nations duty in Saturday's 21-17 victory away to Benetton in Italy.

The western province will in all likelihood need their two best performances of the season to see off Leinster across the two legs, although Friend concedes they are only thinking of this Friday's first game for now.

With the province in their first ever Champions Cup knockout game, capacity at the Sportsground has been raised to 8,129, which is expected to be fully sold-out by Friday night.

And Friend says this week has been as exciting as any he's experienced since he landed in Ireland in 2018.

"It is, without a doubt. It is a special week.

"It's the first time that Connacht has ever been in the knockout stages. It’s Leinster, we know them well and they know us well. It’s the Sportsground with a packed house, a sell-out crowd.

"These are the weeks