CONNACHT COACH PAT Lam says that the next three games — all away from home — will go a long way towards establishing if the Pro12 holders are playing Champions Cup rugby next season.

Connacht chalked up their fourth win on the trot when they scored a bonus point 33-3 win over Zebre in difficult conditions.

They now sit seventh, just two points off Glasgow, but they now face successive away matches the Warriors, Zebre and Edinburgh before two final home games against Leinster and Scarlets with a trip to Munster marking their final regular season fixture.

Naulia Dawai scores his side's second try. James Crombie / INPHO James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO

“We have got three away games in a row and that’s going to be a big challenge for us.

“Hopefully we haven’t left our run too late. The number one goal is that Connacht is playing Champions Cup rugby next season,” said Lam, who will take over at Bristol in the summer.

“I was really proud of the boys. That was probably the toughest conditions we have played in.

Eoin McKeon's face told the story. James Crombie / INPHO James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO

“But the type of rugby that we played, when you look at the score, it was a real professional effort,” he added.

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