Ireland trio back for Connacht's key game with Sharks

Ireland trio Bundee Aki, Finlay Bealham and Mack Hansen are in contention for Connacht's must-win game against the Cell C Sharks on Saturday.

Aki sat out the New Year’s Day defeat to Leinster as part of the IRFU player welfare programme but he could return to the midfield for the crucial BKT United Rugby Championship clash at the Sportsground, live on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player.

Bealham and Hansen have returned to full training following illness, along with Josh Murphy, while Jack Aungier has recovered from a neck injury.

"The important thing for us is to work out how we manage Bundee across this next month," said Connacht head coach Pete Wilkins.

"He will be hoping he’s involved in that Six Nations group, we’re hoping he is too."

David Hawkshaw and Jarrad Butler will miss the Sharks game after suffering ankle and finger injuries respectively in the 41-12 loss at the RDS. The pair will undergo further assessment this week, while Adam Byrne has been ruled out for two weeks with a calf injury.

Connacht’s loss to Leinster in their final interpro of the season left them 13th in the URC table, eight points adrift of the play-offs.

The Sharks sit fifth, with two games in hand, and travel to Galway on the back of a five-game winning run. Four of those successes came in the searing Durban heat, and with rain and wind forecast for the Sportsground, Wilkins is hoping Connacht can take them out of their comfort zone.

Slick hands. Explosive power.