Connacht's boss Pete Wilkins 'optimistic' about finishing season on a high

With just three points between the teams after nine rounds of the BKT URC, Connacht's trip to Cardiff offers an opportunity to put some space between them and their play-off rivals.

Pete Wilkin's men sit ninth in the table and tomorrow's hosts, who have won just two of their last seven games, can overtake them with victory.

"It's an interesting challenge for us, I always feel Cardiff and Connacht are fighting for similar spots on the ladder when it comes to the end of the season," Wilkins told RTÉ Sport.

"Both teams push hard to get in the top eight so games against each other tend to have a pretty big sway on how the season plays out for each team.

"I think they've got a really aggressive defence which will challenge us in terms of our skills under pressure and decision-making like when to run and when to kick.

"They aren't a team that play with a huge amount of possession, they tend to kick a good bit out of their half but they are efficient at it.

"Playing away from home adds to that challenge but we're looking forward to it as a group."

The Westerners, who reached the semi-finals last year, began the season with four wins out of five before losing their way.

They have been able to regroup off the back of a morale-boosting Champions Cup win against Bristol at the end of the pool stages, and beat Munster in their last URC game on New Year's Day.