Connacht have received a welcome boost ahead of Saturday's European Challenge Cup quarter-final against Grenoble.

International scrum-half Kieran Marmion (quad) and flanker Jake Heenan (ankle), who both missed last week's defeat to Ulster, have been cleared to return to the first-team squad for the trip to France.

However, Tiernan O'Halloran, Jack Carty and Nathan White are among the players who are still sidelined through injury.

Should Connacht beat a Grenoble side coached by former Leinster and Ireland front-row Bernard Jackman, then they will advance to within a game of a European final.

Yesterday, the province confirmed seven players who will leave at the end of the season.