By Brendan Cole
Currently first and second in the RaboDirect Pro12 and primed for knockout rugby next week, Munster and Leinster have already earned the right to compete for the top prizes in the European game.
But there is still plenty at stake here as a slip could prove costly with the third-placed Ospreys having a relatively easy run in (two Italian fixtures and derby clashes with Cardiff and Newport-Gwent Dragons).
Leinster have a tricky clash with Ulster at Ravenhill in a couple of weeks, while Munster are just three points ahead of the Welsh side as things stand.
Watch Munster v Leinster live on RTÉ Two or RTÉ.ie/sport from 7pm, listen live on LW 252 or Radio 1 Extra from 7.30pm.
As well as staying out in front of the pack, bragging rights are on offer, while the recent disappointing RBS 6 Nations should also lend an edge to a host of intriguing individual clashes.
In terms of the key battles, both sides struggled at scrum-time last week. But while Munster eventually managed to dominate Connacht, Leinster folded completely and ended up losing by a point to the Ospreys.
A successful return to action by Mike Ross is essential to the visitors' chances. Selected at loosehead in front of Wian Du Preez, Marcus Horan is the man tasked with making life uncomfortable for his former team-mate. On the other side, the tussle is between Heinke Van Der Merwe and BJ Botha.
The contest will be a keen one, but but even the purists must be tired of the recent spate of scrum disintegrations and it would be good to see more stability, along with a measure of latitude given to the tightheads to defend themselves, from referee Nigel Owens.
Hopefully, the battle in general play will take centre-stage.
In that area, Munster are weakened by the absence of two of their top forwards in Paul O’Connell and Donnacha Ryan. Mick O’Driscoll and Donncha O’Callaghan will supply work-ethic and reliable set-pieces in their stead, but the heart and engine of this Munster pack is reduced.
Neither is a percussive hitter or carrier, but Munster will seek to test Leinster’s appetite for a tight battle around the ruck and they may have enough gritty characters to gain traction by doing just that.
In particular, the back-row performance will be of major interest.
Dave O’Callaghan, James Coughlan and Peter O’Mahony make for an abrasive trio and if Munster are to get on top, they must dominate a Leinster trio that may just lack the same edge.
The potential problem is that Munster may struggle to build pressure through phases withTomas O’Leary’s occasional misfires at the base of the ruck a major concern.
But if the pack can generate go-forward, Ronan O’Gara is the master at placing the ball in the area of maximum disadvantage for the opposition, whether through kicking or passing, and if Munster can get up a head of steam and create gaps then Simon Zebo, Lifieimi Mafi and Keith Earls have the pace and footwork to exploit them.
On the Leinster side, it is hugely interesting to see coach Joe Schmidt leaving Leo Cullen and Sean O’Brien out and starting Devin Toner, Jamie Heaslip, Kevin McLaughlin and Shane Jennings.
With McLaughlin and Toner starting, Leinster look set to deploy a gameplan they usually save for home matches, with the emphasis on using ball off the top of the lineout and moving the ball quickly across the backline.
Heaslip, named captain for the day, should benefit from the reduced responsibilities out of touch and his clash with Coughlan is one to keep a close on eye on.
Eoin Reddan’s selection at scrum-half combined with Jennings’ ability to deliver quick ruck ball on the deck hints that the plan is to play fast, summer rugby of the type that suits Jonathan Sexton particularly well, while outside him Brian O’Driscoll also thrives in faster conditions and his creativity will be a major boost to the Leinster attack.
Ultimately, it may be the fact that Leinster have been able to select something close to their best team that could prove decisive and they may just be able to sneak an away win.
Prediction: Munster 12-18 Leinster
Leinster: Kearney; Nacewa; O’Driscoll; D’Arcy; Fitzgerald; Sexton, Reddan; van der Merwe; Cronin; Ross; Thorn; Toner; McLaughlin; Jennings; Heaslip (c)
Replacements: Strauss; Healy; Hagan; Cullen; O’Brien; Boss; Madigan; McFadden
Munster: F Jones; J Murphy, K Earls, L Mafi, S Zebo; R O’Gara (c), T O'Leary; M Horan, D Varley, BJ Botha; D O’Callaghan,M O'Driscoll; Dave O'Callaghan, P O’Mahony, J Coughlan
Replacements: M Sherry, W du Preez, S Archer; B Holland, T O’Donnell, D Williams, I Keatley, D Barnes.
