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.
💬 "You can earmark this as a game, if we're serious about getting that top eight spot or a top four spot, these are the games that we should be winning"
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) February 15, 2024
Connacht head coach Pete Wilkins speaks to @MicilGlennon about the challenge posed by Cardiff #CARvCON pic.twitter.com/XQ3ZY8uWao
"We're tracking all right," added the Englishman, who took over from Andy Friend as boss at the end of last season.
"We'd love to be up in the top four or top eight but with the nature of the draw where seven of those first nine games were against top-half teams.
"I feel like we have a bit of an even ledger, but I am optimistic about the rest of the season.
"For that to materialise, we have to win games in this second half of the season, so we have to pick up points against those teams that are around us, and Cardiff is obviously one of them."
Meanwhile, Cardiff flanker Thomas Young says he's expecting an open game.
"Obviously, the things we've looked at, they like to throw the ball around and they've got a lot of different plays," said Young.
"I think we're preparing for a bit of an open game really. I’m not sure what the weather's doing but both teams like to have a go throwing the ball around.
"When I was at Wasps, when I first went there, throwing the ball around or moving the ball around was something that we tried to do.
"Then it went to more of a kicking game, but I think it's come back to more teams wanting to play and I think that's why the crowds are coming in.
"Especially at home, we have a good go, but as I said, it'll be nice for us to get a win now."
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