With both Connacht and Leinster on a bye-week following the rescheduling of their respective games against the Stormers and the Lions, we're once again dealing with a shortened round of games in the United Rugby Championships.
Postponements have become an all too familiar sight in the URC in recent weeks, and as a result, this Saturday's derby game at Thomond Park between Munster and Ulster is just the second Interpro to be played over the course of these last three weeks.
Munster were able to get back out onto the pitch last week, although in hindsight they may wish they hadn't, with a demoralising performance and result away to Connacht leaving them desperate for a victory, and some signs of positive rugby against a potentially rusty Ulster.
The northern province enjoyed important wins against both Clermont Auvergne and Northampton Saints n the Heineken Champions Cup before Christmas, but that momentum was halted by a Covid-19 outbreak in the squad which saw their games against both Connacht and Leinster postponed.
TV
Munster v Ulster (7.35pm kickoff) is live on RTÉ2 and the RTÉ Player, with build-up starting from 7pm.
RADIO
You can hear live commentary on RTÉ Radio 1 Extra, with Michael Corcoran joined at Thomond Park by former Munster hooker Mike Sherry.
ONLINE
RTE.ie/sport will have a live blog with match report and reaction from the ground. It's live on URC TV.
WEATHER
We could be in for some difficult conditions in Limerick on Saturday night, with rain forecast and temperatures dropping to around four degrees late in the evening.
FULL TABLE, RESULTS AND FIXTURES
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It's been close to eight years since Ulster last won at Thomond Park, and recent history would would point towards Munster's advantage.
You have to back as far as October 2016 for the last away win in this derby, on that occasion Munster edging out a 15-14 win.
Since then, eight out of their nine meetings have been won by the home side, save for a 24-24 draw at Thomond Park in 2018.
Their last meeting - a 38-10 win for Munster at Thomond Park in the Rainbow Cup - started out in fiery fashion, with Rory Scannell and Will Addison sparking a 30-man shoving match, with Addison later red-carded for a high-tackle on Shane Daly.
The short-term form guide doesn't provide much context, with Ulster coming into the game off the back of a two-week Covid-19 layoff, while Munster have played just three times since late October.
But there is certainly more pressure on the home side this weekend after their humbling in Galway last weekend, with some calls for the province to activate the early release of Johann van Graan from his contract, ahead of his planned summer departure for Bath.
It's a situation Ulster found themselves in just under three years ago, with Jono Gibbes announcing his departure in early 2018, as the province sleepwalked their way through the rest of the season.
In came Dan McFarland that summer though, and the rest is history.
For this weekend's Round 10 meeting, Munster will be without Damian de Allende, who picked up an abdominal injury during the week, while Jean Kleyn's knee injury sees a start for Thomas Ahern.
Ireland internationals Conor Murray, Andrew Conway and Keith Earls appear to be rested, while Tadhg Beirne is kept on the bench.
Simon Zebo is among seven changes from last week's defeat at Connacht, his first appearance on 12 weeks.
Ulster are still without injured pair Iain Henderson and Stuart McCloskey, but have recovered from their Covid-19 outbreak to pick a strong matchday squad.
In-form James Hume could have a big role in the centre, while it's a first choice half-back combination of John Cooney and Billy Burns.
Their back-row looks strong with Duane Vermeulen and Nick Timoney starting with Greg Jones, while Marcus Rea will hope to continue his good form off the bench.
Munster: Mike Haley; Sean French, Chris Farrell, Rory Scannell, Simon Zebo; Jack Crowley, Craig Casey; Dave Kilcoyne, Niall Scannell, Stephen Archer; Thomas Ahern, Fineen Wycherley; Peter O'Mahony (capt), John Hodnett, Gavin Coombes.
Replacements: Diarmuid Barron, Josh Wycherley, John Ryan, Tadhg Beirne, Jack O'Donoghue, Neil Cronin, Ben Healy, Shane Daly.
Ulster: Mike Lowry; Craig Gilroy, Ben Moxham, James Hume, Ethan McIlroy; Billy Burns, John Cooney; Jack McGrath, Rob Herring, Tom O'Toole; Alan O'Connor (capt), Sam Carter; Greg Jones, Nick Timoney, Duane Vermeulen.
Replacements: John Andrew, Andrew Warwick, Ross Kane, Kieran Treadwell, Marcus Rea, Nathan Doak, Angus Curtis, Rob Lyttle.
Referee: Mike Adamson (SRU, 58th league game)
