Connacht must not allow their lofty position in the Guinness Pro12 table to get in the way of their Challenge Cup hopes, according to Alan Quinlan.
Pat Lam’s men are second in the league table with three games left to play and will secure a home semi-final if they don’t drop below that position.
But before the final run of regular-season games they face a quarter-final against Grenoble on Saturday night (8.05pm) and the former Ireland flanker has urged Connacht to make the European competition a priority.
“I think Connacht have to go for it,” Quinlan told RTÉ’s Against the Head.
"They can’t go, ‘well, we have the league now, we’re in a great position’. I believe Pat Lam will go for it.
"It’s a great opportunity."
The westerners will be boosted by the news that Ireland scrum-half Kieran Marmion has been passed fit for selection having missed the loss to Ulster last Friday with a quad injury.
Also returning is flanker Jake Heenan, while Tiernan O'Halloran, AJ MacGinty, Rory Parata, Jack Carty, Craig Ronaldson, Ciaran Gaffney and Nathan White continue rehab for their respective injuries.
Against the Head panellist Brent Pope also sounded a word of warning ahead of the clash with the Bernard Jackman-coached side, currently eighth in the Top 14.
"The problem for Connacht is that [French] teams are very strong at home," he said.
"Grenoble will be tough at home but Connacht have got to go for it."
