Friends reunion on cards as Connacht welcome old pals Lam, Marmion and MacGinty

It will be something of a friends reunion when Connacht host Bristol Bears this evening but former coach Pat Lam can expect no favours once the whistle blows.

The sides face off in the final round of the pool stages of the Investec Champions Cup, both desperate for a win to continue their European adventure.

Connacht, with just one point from three games, realistically need a five-point victory, while denying the visitors a bonus.

Saracens could still come into the equation at the bottom on Pool 1 but are favourites to get the two points needed to guarantee qualification for the last 16 when they host Lyon.

Pete Wilkins' charges are targeting a place in the Challenge Cup and will secure that by finishing fifth.

Lam led Connacht to their most famous day back in 2016 when they beat Leinster in the Pro12 final in Edinburgh.

The former Samoa international departed for Bristol in 2017 and tonight’s 8pm kick-off will be his third visit back.

The Bears travelled over for a pre-season friendly in 2017 and knocked Connacht out of the Champions Cup with a 27-18 victory in December 2020, a game played behind closed doors due to Covid-19 restrictions.

"I'm so excited to come back. [2016] is still the highlight," Lam, whose side lost at home to the Bulls last weekend, told Galway Bay FM.

"When you consider the budget that we had then, where we were, who we were, what we managed to achieve.

"It's always special. A lot of memories, it's been a while but it will be nice to go back and see everyone.

"When we did draw Connacht, which I wasn't necessarily happy about in that sense, but what I was happy about was the chance to come back to Galway, which I often do, to visit friends.

"[My team] are in for a treat on the field and off the field."

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