A photo posted on a tech blog over the weekend depicts what looks like Apple’s third-generation iPad, albeit with the controversial and often polarizing Lightning dock connector in place of the old 30-pin variant.

Photo credit: Apple.pro

Although, the veracity of the leak has yet to be confirmed, this somehow adds some credence to earlier rumors that Apple would be releasing an updated version of the “new” iPad with the new dock connector and the faster A6 processor under the hood.

Apple.Pro published the photo on Saturday, October 20, which shows an iPad back case that appears to have a dock hole that matches the one for the Lightning connector. Also shown on the photo was a third-generation iPad on the bottom of the supposed refresh, with the legacy 30-pin connector where it should be. The smaller, “universal” Lightning connector debuted last month on the iPhone 5; although it is supposedly easier to use, Apple has received lots of flak for introducing a new connector due to the inconvenience of buying a special adaptor in order to use older accessories.

The Lightning connector is expected to completely phase out the 30-pin variant going forward, as all of Apple’s so-called “iDevices” will likely be modified in order to support the Lightning port.

Apple expects the new connector to have a similar 10-year lifecycle, due to the monetary investment in developing the connector for today’s Apple mobile devices. We shall find out if this refreshed full-size third-generation iPad will be one of several devices unveiled at tomorrow’s Apple press event.