Ulster and Leinster have set a nice, high bar for this year's interpro games, and this week it's the turn of Connacht and Munster to try to reach it.
The derby in Belfast last week wasn't much in terms of free-flowing rugby, in large part down to the horrendous weather conditions. The intensity more than made up for it though, both sides as close to full-strength as they could be, and the game played at a Test pace.
Given the poor starts to the season both Connacht and Munster have endured, there's no reason to expect anything less than full intensity at the Sportsground tonight, with their desperate need for a win heightening the stakes even further.
If their two meetings last season are anything to go by, we're in for a nail-biter; Munster striking late to win a back-and-forth contest at Thomond Park 12 months ago, before Connacht gained revenge with a 10-8 slog at the Sportsground on New Year's Day.
There's also likely to be a sense of occasion at the Sportsground, as Connacht open up their home campaign, following three long weeks on the road.
Andy Friend's side will also get to test out their brand new artificial surface at the Sportsground, but don't expect that to be unsettling for Munster, who have been on a 4G surface for two of their first three games this season, as well as both of their pre-season friendlies.
On Saturday evening, Leinster will be expected to make it four wins from four when they host the Sharks at the RDS. While Sean Everitt's side have started the season with back-to-back wins, the South Africans haven't been able to call on any of their Springbok regulars for the northern hemisphere tour.
Also on Saturday, Ulster will hope to dust themselves off after their defeat to Leinster, as they host the Ospreys at Kingspan Stadium.
TV
Leinster v Cell C Sharks (Saturday, 5.05pm) is live on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player, while Connacht v Munster (Friday 7.35pm) is available to watch on TG4.
RADIO
RTÉ Radio 1 Extra will have live commentary of Connacht v Munster on Friday night at the Sportsground, while you can hear a preview and updates from Leinster v Sharks on Saturday Sport on RTÉ Radio 1.
ONLINE
RTE.ie/sport will have live scoring and blogs across the weekend with match reports and reaction from the grounds. All games are live on URC TV.
WEATHER
The meeting of Connacht and Munster should be played in dry conditions in Galway, with any showers on Friday expected to have cleared before the 7.35pm kickoff, but it's likely to be cold and windy at the Sportsground. Leinster are set to have favourable conditions for their meeting with the Sharks on Saturday evening, with no rain forecast, light winds, and temperatures around 12-14C, while conditions are expected to be similar in Belfast, where Ulster host the Ospreys.
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Recent history would suggest a close one in Galway. Of the last five meetings between the pair, three have gone the way of Munster and two for Connacht, with the widest margain of victory a mere six points.
Both sides have started the season badly. Munster did manage to pick up their first win of the campaign a week ago against Zebre, but a scoreless second half would indicate they're still some way off their top form.
Connacht's form remains a worry. Three defeats from three, and without even a losing bonus-point to show for their efforts, they need to start picking up wins ASAP.
Andy Friend is at least able to welcome back Jack Carty to his line-up, the captain having missed the opening three games as he recovered from wrist surgery.
Munster have also been able to include first-teamers Gavin Coombes and Jean Kleyn to boost their pack, while Joey Carbery's selection at full-back has excited fans. However, it might not be the start of an extended run for him in the 15 shirt, with the province down to the bare bones of their back-three resources.
Graham Rowntree's side were beaten on their last visit to Galway, but they've won here three times in their last four visits.
Connacht: Conor Fitzgerald; John Porch, Byron Ralston, David Hawkshaw, Mack Hansen; Jack Carty (capt), Kieran Marmion; Denis Buckley, Dave Heffernan, Finlay Bealham; Gavin Thornbury, Oisin Dowling; Shamus Hurley-Langton, Conor Oliver, Jarrad Butler.
Replacements: Grant Stewart, Peter Dooley, Jack Aungier, Niall Murray, Josh Murphy, Colm Reilly, Tom Daly, Paul Boyle.
Munster: Joey Carbery; Conor Phillips, Malakai Fekitoa, Dan Goggin, Patrick Campbell; Ben Healy, Conor Murray; Dave Kilcoyne, Niall Scannell, Keynan Knox; Jean Kleyn, Tadhg Beirne; Jack O'Donoghue, Peter O'Mahony (capt), Gavin Coombes.
Replacements: Scott Buckley, Jeremy Loughman, Stephen Archer, Edwin Edogbo, Jack O’Sullivan, Craig Casey, Rory Scannell, Fionn Gibbons.
Referee: Chris Busby (IRFU).
It's very much a role reversal from when these sides met back in April, when Leinster travelled to King's Park with a second-string team, as they rested up ahead of a Champions Cup knockout run.
This time, the Sharks head to Dublin with their Springbok heavy-hitters back in South Africa, where they have been given time off following a busy Rugby Championship campaign.
It hasn't hindered the Sharks so far. The Durban side have won two games out of two on their European tour so far, seeing off Zebre and Dragons in recent weeks, but they will be making a step up in class when they take on Leinster at the RDS.
Leo Cullen's side maintained their 100% record with victory at Ulster a week ago, although they weren't hugely convincing in the second half of that game in Belfast, surrendering a losing bonus-point to the hosts, having been 20-3 in front at one stage.
This will be the Sharks' third visit to an Irish province since joining the league last year; their first game in the URC was a heavy defeat to Munster last September, while they were also beaten by Ulster at Kingspan Stadium in the final round of the regular season in May.
Leinster: Jimmy O'Brien; Jordan Larmour, Robbie Henshaw, Charlie Ngatai, Rob Russell; Johnny Sexton (capt), Luke McGrath; Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan, Michael Ala’alatoa; Ross Molony, Jason Jenkins, Ryan Baird, Will Connors, Jack Conan.
Replacements: John McKee, Cian Healy, Vakhtang Abdaladze, James Ryan, Rhys Ruddock, Cormac Foley, Ross Byrne, Garry Ringrose.
Cell C Sharks: Aphelele Fassi; Werner Kok, Rohan Janse van Rensburg, Ben Tapuai, Thaakir Abrahams; Boeta Chamberlain, Grant Williams; Ntuthuko Mchunu, Kerron van Vuuren, Thomas du Toit (capt); Justin Basson, Hyron Andrews; James Venter, Dylan Richardson, Sikhumbuzo Notshe.
Replacements: Dan Jooste, Dian Bleuler, Carlu Sadie, Reniel Hugo, Phepsi Buthelezi, Cameron Wright, Nevaldo Fleurs, Marnus Potgieter.
Referee: Craig Evans (WRU).
Dan McFarland's side fell to a first defeat of the season in last week's Interpro against Leinster, but there certainly wouldn't be any alarm bells ringing, after they fought back well to secure a losing bonus-point.
If anything, plenty of Ulster fans will be quietly pleased at the way in which they've stayed on in games this season, having struggled in the final quarter a lot during the 2021/22 campaign.
They've also been coping without injured pair James Hume and Iain Henderson, while Robert Baloucone and Nathan Doak have missed the last couple of games due to their Emerging Ireland commitments.
It's rare Ulster lose at home, and you'd have to go back 12 years to find the last time they lost two home games in a row in the league.
They'll be expected to get back to winning ways against the Ospreys on Saturday night, with the Welsh side having blown hot and cold in their first three games; a win against Glasgow last week was offset by a defeat to the Lions, and a second half collapse in their draw with Scarlets.
The Welsh side did beat Ulster in last year's meeting in Swansea, but that's one of just two wins against the province in their last eight meetings, while they haven't won in Belfast since 2013.
Ulster: Michael Lowry; Craig Gilroy, Luke Marshall, Stuart McCloskey, Rob Lyttle; Ian Madigan, John Cooney; Eric O'Sullivan, John Andrew, Marty Moore; Alan O’Connor (capt), Sam Carter; Nick Timoney, Jordi Murphy, Duane Vermeulen.
Replacements: Declan Moore, Andy Warwick, Tom O’Toole, Frank Bradshaw-Ryan, Marcus Rea, Dave Shanahan, Billy Burns, Aaron Sexton.
Ospreys: Max Nagy; Luke Morgan, Owen Watkin, Michael Collins, Keelan Giles; Stephen Myler, Reuben Morgan Williams; Gareth Thomas, Dewi Lake, Tom Botha; Rhys Davies, Huw Sutton; Will Griffiths, Jac Morgan, Dan Lydiate (capt).
Replacements: Scott Baldwin, Nicky Smith, Rhys Henry, Jack Regan, Morgan Morris, Rhys Webb, Jack Walsh, Joe Hawkins.
Referee: Ben Blain (SRU)
FULL URC TABLE, FIXTURES AND RESULTS
Meanwhile, Emerging Ireland round off their three-game tour on Sunday.
After wins against the Griquas and Pumas in the last week, Simon Easterby's side complete their programme against the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein, with kickoff at 2pm Irish time.
