This is a real eye of the storm moment for the provinces with the Heineken Champions Cup pool games over and the Six Nations beginning next weekend.
All seems calm but the squads will be tested as they bid to maintain momentum in the Guinness Pro14.
Munster make 13 changes for the visit to Rodney Parade, where the hosts have accounted for the Southern Kings, Zebre, Ospreys and Edinburgh so far this season.
Mike Haley and Jean Kleyn are the only Munster survivors from last week's win over Exeter and the duo will need to take charge given that Johann van Graan's men have poor form in Wales recently.
In fact, their last two visits to the Principality - both against Cardiff Blues - have ended in defeat.
On the other hand you have to go back to September 2017 for the Dragons' last win over one of the Irish provinces - a 21-8 victory over Connacht.
The Welsh outfit make six switches to the side beaten by Racing 92. "Munster are a difficult opponent and a top-quality team with lots of power," said coach Ceri Jones.
Connacht head to Wales minus their Irish contingent, which now stands at six with Quinn Roux's call-up for the injured Tadhg Beirne.
That itself tells a tale of Connacht's form, which sees them into the Challenge Cup knockout stages and sitting fourth in Conference A, level on points with Ospreys in third.
They will be tested, however, to maintain a run that has brought defeat just twice in the last ten games.
Andy Friend's charges have lost their last five games in Wales.
"This our first chance to have a real crack at Connacht, and if we win this week it will really put us in-touch with third place," said Blues coach John Mulvihill.
"But if we lose, we’ll be facing an eight to ten-point turnaround for us.
"They will be missing a few key players to international call-ups, as will we, but our depth is good in those areas and we’ll be able to put out a good team"
Despite the significant achievement of reaching the last eight in Europe for the first time in five years, Ulster still have domestic chores to attend to.
They start tonight with the goal of avoiding a third straight Guinness Pro14 defeat. Ulster can leapfrog the Italians with a win and if Leinster beat Scarlets, can jump up to second, until Edinburgh play the Kings tomorrow at least.
Ulster are without a number of Ireland players, who are in camp, but only make two changes to the backline from the team that beat Leicester, Michael Lowry and James Hume coming in at full-back and outside centre.
The visitors, for whom Dubliner Ian McKinley gets his fourth start this season at out-half, are on a run of four wins in a row.
Dan McFarland's side have a fine home record, with just a solitary defeat here since February last year.
"This weekend is hugely important for this club," he said.
"We have to get everything right in our preparation."
However, James Lowe is back in harness for the first time since the end of December after a ban and a selection call.
The Kiwi winger was asked about playing for Ireland when he becomes eligible.
"It's an exciting prospect," he said, "there's contract negotiation to go before that...it's about 18 months out.
"I've always wanted to test myself on the higher stages so if the opportunity does come about, yeah, we'll see how we go."
Something to look forward to. Meanwhile, Rob Kearney and Jack McGrath are also on show as Joe Schmidt wanted them to get more game time under their belts.
Scarlets have won just once on the road this season.
