Connacht won't be daunted by the visit of Leinster to the Sportsground tomorrow, according to director of rugby Andy Friend.
After a poor start to the BKT United Rugby Championship season, the western province got up and running last week when they saw off Munster 20-11 for their first win of the campaign.
However, the visit of Leinster will require a step up in class, with Leo Cullen's side harbouring a 100% record to date, their most recent outing seeing them score eight tries in a 54-34 win against the Sharks at the RDS.
And Friend says his players have found their confidence again after breaking their losing run on home soil a week ago.
"It makes a hell of a difference when you win," he told RTÉ Sport.
"We certainly needed that as a squad, we needed it as an organisation, and I think Connacht and Galway needed it too.
"It was a good win, it makes life easier, but we have a huge task tomorrow night and we're looking forward to it.
"It's massive, they're four from four at the moment, I thought the game against the Sharks was a brilliant game of rugby last week, and then they flashed to the bench and there were five or six internationals who weren't on the field."
Leinster have made 10 changes for tomorrow night's Interpro, but in many cases they've simply swapped quality for other quality.
While Johnny Sexton, Robbie Henshaw, Andrew Porter and Jason Jenkins drop out of the starting team, Tadhg Furlong, Garry Ringrose, James Ryan, Caelan Doris and Josh van der Flier are among those to return.
Connacht director of rugby Andy Friend believes his side have what it takes to trouble Leinster
In four meetings last season between the sides, Leinster comfortably came out on top in three of them, but the Connacht boss says his side have no fear of going toe to toe with their dominant neighbours.
"They're a formidable opposition, a well-respected opposition but at the same time it's 80 minutes of rugby and two teams having a go. It'll be a tough one, but we're ready for the challenge.
"We know that we've beaten them a couple of years ago at the RDS, and we ran them very, very close down here last year, so we know we have the game that can definitely trouble them. It's about trying to bring that game tomorrow night.
"We're definitely buoyed and upbeat from the Munster game, but we're not getting carried away. We know we're still nowhere near our best, but a win does help and eases the nerves a bit. It gives a bit of a pep in the step for everybody," he added.
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