Edinburgh Gunners team manager Ian Rankin has highlighted the work of Ireland international Eric Elwood as the most potent threat to his side at Connacht.

Elwood scored two penalties to earn the Irish side a shock 6-3 Celtic League win at Cardiff on Saturday.

But, while the influence of the 32-year-old is immeasurable to Connacht, Rankin insists the whole team will provide a stern test for his side after their win at the Arms Park.

``They got the shock result of the week last week by beating Cardiff,'' said Rankin. ``That will have boosted their confidence a huge amount because there are not many teams who win in Cardiff.

``It has certainly given us something to think about. The guys have certainly sat up and noticed that result.

``Eric Elwood is still very influential and has been their lynch-pin for a long number of years now.

``Connacht are always written off as the weakest set-up of the Irish sides but they have enjoyed some great results over the years.''

However Rankin is confident his side can build on the mostly good performance against Munster at Myreside last week where a late lapse in concentration cost the Gunners the game.

``As an event, last week was excellent so it was unfortunate to miss out at the death,'' said Rankin.

``We have addressed a lot of the things we felt were weak and hope to build on the better stuff we showed later on.''

But the loss of captain Graeme Burns through a broken bone in his foot has put a dampener on the opening week of the Celtic League for all at the club.

However Rankin believes Iain Fairley can prove himself as a replacement at scrum-half at the Galway Sports Ground.

``It was disappointing for us all because Graeme was relishing the captaincy role,'' said Rankin.

``He was certainly fitting in well to that role. He has done a lot of captaincy at `A' team and club level over the years.

``But Don Mackinnon was our skipper last year and he is doing so again this time.

``Iain Fairley is feeling a lot sharper than he has ever been after playing with Scotland sevens in the summer.

``Although he feels sorry for Graeme, he is going to do all he can to try and promote himself as the number one scrum half.

``Graeme had a problem early on last year but it is just one of those things which happen and we just hope that it is not going to be too long.''