Pete Wilkins: Connacht have narrow focus ahead of URC run-in

Connacht head coach Pete Wilkins says he has an idea how many games his side need to win to secure a top-eight finish in the BKT United Rugby Championship, but will be keeping that information private for now.

The province return to URC action this weekend following their disappointing 39-24 defeat to Benetton in the quarter-final of the Challenge Cup on Sunday.

Connacht have Italian opposition again this week, with Zebre visiting the Sportsground on Saturday night.

Wilkins' side are in a battle to make the play-offs and secure Champions Cup rugby next season.

Two defeats in their last two URC games have left them 10th in the table, although just five points separates them from the Stormers in fifth.

The province face the bottom two sides in the coming weeks, with this weekend's game against Zebre followed by a meeting with second-from-bottom Dragons, before they finish off the regular season with difficult games against Munster, Stormers and Leinster.

"I do, but I wouldn't share it at this point," Wilkins (below) said, when asked if he had a required number of wins in mind that he believes would secure a play-off place.

"The only reason for saying that isn't because I don't want to be brave and ambitious in terms of setting targets but because the landscape can change so quickly.

"I think it's so tight, particularly around those spots, fourth to eighth and then us few teams sitting below that. Week to week that's going to keep adjusting.

"I know what we need to get out of Zebre, I have an idea out of Dragons and we'll see where we are after that.

"I know certainly some of the teams we're competing with have some tough trips to Africa coming up and some tough fixtures outside of that as well.

"We need to get into that top eight and