Eric Elwood has names his team for this Saturdays Magners League clash with the Newport Gwent Dragons.

Connacht Rugby have named a 26 man squad ahead of their first Magners League clash of the new season against the Newport Gwent Dragons this Saturday in the Sportsground, Galway.

The last four encounters between the two teams have all been won by the home side on the day, whilst Dragons' only previous victory in Galway was 32-14 on 1 May 2004.

Dragons head coach Paul Turner, former Connacht boss Michael Bradley, Scarlets hooker Ken Owens, Edinburgh full back Chris Paterson and the entire Cardiff Blues squad were all winners at Monday night's inaugural Magners League Awards.

New Connacht coach Eric Elwood insists there is no sense of panic at the province as preparations continue for the new season.

John Muldoon will captain the Connacht squad for the coming season announced Head Coach Eric Elwood at a press conference in the Sportsground.

Connacht Rugby have bolstered their squad with the addition of versatile scrumhalf Cillian Willis.

Tommy Bowe will help the Ospreys kick-off the defence of their Magners League title with a trip to familiar territory when the Welsh region open the tournament's 10th anniversary campaign against Ulster at Ravenhill on the weekend of 4 September.

There will be plenty of new faces appearing in the Magners League this season, and not just with the two new Italian clubs, Benetton Treviso and Aironi Rugby.

Connacht's Tim Allnutt presented new signing Ezra Taylor with his Connacht jersey at the Sportsground, Galway today.

Connacht have beefed up their pack for the new Magners League season by signing Queensland Reds Super 14 forward Ezra Taylor.

Michael Bradley's final match in charge of Connacht ended in disappointment as Ulster outscored their provincial rivals by 29 points in the second half of Friday's derby clash at Ravenhill.

Ulster have won their last seven clashes with Connacht whilst Connacht have not won in Belfast since November 1960.

The Scarlets moved themselves off the bottom of the Magners League table by putting a weakened Connacht side to a sword in a 58-10 win at Parc y Scarlets.

Connacht turned the Magners League table on its head to dish out a 14-point defeat to leaders Leinster and boost their chances of qualifying for the Heineken Cup for the first time.

Connacht beat Scarlets 16-10 at the Sportsground in round seven and are going for a first ever season's double over the West Walians.

Connacht's only win over Leinster since 2004 came in this equivalent fixture last year at the Galway Sportsground.

Connacht's eight-match unbeaten run at the Sportsground was ended by Munster as the defending champions took the spoils in Sunday's Magners League derby.

Connacht have beaten Munster only once in their last 32 meetings since 1986: 12-6 at the Sportsground in the Magners League on 28 December 2008.

New Zealander Miah Nikora kicked a late penalty as Connacht, the Magners League's bottom side, edged out high-flying Edinburgh in an absorbing encounter at the Sportsground on Friday.