With the Champions and Challenge Cups now on hold until April, the BKT United Rugby Championship is back in focus for the next two weekends, before attention turns to the Six Nations.
We've reached the second half of the regular season, although Ulster and Connacht do have games in hand to make up.
The pick of the action this week comes in Galway, where Connacht face Leinster for the second time this month, as Stuart Lancaster's side mark the official opening of their new and improved Dexcom Stadium at The Sportsground, with a 5.30pm kick-off on Saturday evening.
Before that, Munster host Dragons in Cork on Friday night, looking to get the show back on the road following their Champions Cup elimination.
And Ulster will look to keep their good form rolling, with Richie Murphy's side away to the Scarlets on Saturday afternoon.
Find out all you need to know here.
RADIO
There's live commentary of Connacht v Leinster on RTÉ Radio 1's Saturday Sport.
TV
Munster v Dragons (Saturday, 7.45pm) is live on TG4 and Premier Sports, while Scarlets v Ulster (Saturday, 3pm), Connacht v Leinster (Saturday, 5.30pm) and all other games, are available on Premier Sports and URC.tv.
ONLINE
We'll have a live blog and live score updates, reports and reaction.
WEATHER
It's expected to be a wet and windy night in Cork, where Munster host Dragons on Friday night, with temperatures around 7C.
Ulster will have similar conditions to contend with in Llanelli on Saturday afternoon against the Scarlets, although the rain is expected to be heavier.
And there's also a chance of some showers in Galway on Saturday night at Dexcom Stadium, with similar temperatures, around 6C.
For more go to met.ie.
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This will be the Dragons' 14th time visiting Cork to take on Munster, and the Welsh side have lost each time.
Munster come into the game in troubling form though with just two wins from their last eight in all competitions, and four defeats in a row.
The Dragons, who ended a 15-month losing run in the URC with an emphatic win against Connacht last month, picked up their second win of the season against Scarlets over Christmas, and Filo Tiatia's side are in frisky form, winning four of their last seven in all competitions.
This will be Munster's fourth game against Welsh opposition this season, and Clayton McMillan's side have already beaten Scarlets, Cardiff and Ospreys.
Dragons' only victory in their last 11 meetings with Munster was 23-17 at Rodney Parade in September 2022.
Munster: Mike Haley; Thaakir Abrahams, Dan Kelly, Alex Nankivell, Shane Daly; JJ Hanrahan, Ethan Coughlan; Jeremy Loughman, Diarmuid Barron (capt), Michael Ala'alato; Jean Kleyn, Fineen Wycherley; Seán Edogbo, Ruadhán Quinn, Brian Gleeson
Replacements: Lee Barron, Josh Wycherley, Oli Jager, Evan O’Connell, Gavin Coombes, Paddy Patterson, Tony Butler, Diarmuid Kilgallen
Dragons: Angus O’Brien (co-capt); David Richards, Fine Inisi, Aneurin Owen, Rio Dyer; Tinus de Beer, Che Hope; Rodrigo Martinez, Brodie Coghlan, Robert Hunt; Levi Douglas, Ben Carter (co-capt); Harri Keddie, Harry Beddall, Aaron Wainwright
Replacements: Oli Burrows, Jordan Morris, Cebo Dlamini, Seb Davies, Shane Lewis-Hughes, Rhodri Williams, Harri Ackerman, Cai Evans
Referee: Hollie Davidson (SRU).
It's been a return to form for Ulster under Richie Murphy this season, and the province will hope to consolidate their place in the top four against a struggling Scarlets side in Llanelli.
Ulster have won six of their eight URC games this season, with their only defeats coming away to Leinster and the Lions.
Scarlets have endured a dismal season to date, with Dwayne Peel's side bottom of the table, while they've lost four in a row in all competitions, and six of their last seven.
Ulster have won their last eight matches against Scarlets since the West Walians' 29-12 triumph at Parc y Scarlets in November 2018.
Scarlets: Blair Murray; Tom Rogers, Eddie James, Joe Hawkins, Ellis Mee; Sam Costelow, Archie Hughes; Kemsley Mathias, Ryan Elias, Archer Holz; Sam Lousi, Harvey Cuckson; Taine Plumtree, Josh MacLeod (capt), Fletcher Anderson.
Replacements: Mamus van der Merwe, Josh Morse, Henry Thomas, Jac Price, Jarrod Taylor, Dane Blacker, Johnny Williams, Macs Page.
Ulster: Michael Lowry; Robert Baloucoune, Jame Hume, Stuart McCloskey, Werner Kok; Jack Murphy, Nathan Doak; Angus Bell, Tom Stewart, Tom O'Toole; Iain Henderson (capt), Charlie Irvine; David McCann, Nick Timoney, Bryn Ward.
Replacements: Rob Herring, Eric O’Sullivan, Scott Wilson, Harry Sheridan, Matthew Dalton, Conor McKee, Jake Flannery, Jude Postlethwaite.
Referee: Griffin Colby (SARU)
It's only three weeks since these sides last met, and if Connacht are to mark the opening of their new Clan Stand at Dexcom Stadium with a win, it will require a sensational turnaround.
Stuart Lancaster's side were obliterated in the second half when these teams met at the Aviva on 3 January, with Leinster cruising to a 52-17 win.
That was an 11th consecutive Interpro defeat for Connacht, their worst run of form in derby games in 12 years. They haven't lost 12 Interpros on the trot since 2008.
Connacht have only won two of their last seven games in all competitions, both victories being facile wins against weak Champions Cup opposition, and you'd have to go back to the end of November for their last win of great value.
The province come into the weekend 12th in the table, but their good record of bonus-points means they are still well within reach of the top half.
Leinster, meanwhile, have now won nine games in a row, and while they have struggled to produce a full 80-minute performance, Leo Cullen's side are making steady progress up the URC table.
They could climb as high as second with a bonus-point win this weekend.
Connacht: Sam Gilbert; Shane Jennings, Harry West, Cathal Forde, Finn Treacy; Josh Ioane, Caolin Blade; Billy Bohan, Dylan Tierney-Martin, Sam Illo; Josh Murphy, Darragh Murray; Cian Prendergast (capt), Paul Boyle, Sean Jansen.
Replacements: Eoin de Buitléar, Denis Buckley, Jack Aungier, Joe Joyce, Sean O'Brien, Ben Murphy, Jack Carty, Bundee Aki.
Leinster: Ciarán Frawley; Joshua Kenny, Garry Ringrose, Charlie Tector, James Lowe; Harry Byrne, Fintan Gunne; Jack Boyle, Gus McCarthy, Niall Smyth; RG Snyman, James Ryan; Alex Soroka, Will Connors, Caelan Doris (capt).
Replacements: Rónan Kelleher, Jerry Cahir, Andrew Sparrow, Brian Deeny, Diarmuid Mangan, Scott Penny, Luke McGrath, Ruben Moloney.
Referee: Eoghan Cross (IRFU)
