Munster v Ulster, Musgrave Park, Today, 7.10pm: Blessed relief from the grim November internationals, a traditionally spicy rivalry given added intrigue by a host of significant match-ups, as well as the Celtic League points at stake between first and third.
And not the least significant aspect of this clash is that it offers them their only opportunities to find some form and rhythm before returning to European matters next week.
As Munster's double last season and their most recent outings in the Celtic league four weeks ago underlined, the home side undoubtedly have more strength in depth throughout their squad. Coming off their praiseworthy defeat in Biarritz and more pertinently their disappointing home loss last time out to the Ospreys, Mark McCall may be relatively glad, however, to be meeting Munster with their respective Test players back in harness.
That said, Justin Fitzpatrick's broken thumb will oblige the Ulster coach to make one change to a pack which had been retained en bloc for half a dozen games in succession prior to that defeat to the Ospreys, when missing a host of frontliners on international duty.
Promoting Bryan Young would mean a straight replacement without too much reshuffling, such as moving Simon Best across from tighthead, while McCall also has to make a decision about his three-quarter line now that Paul Steinmetz is back in the mix. Although McCall has delayed naming his team, otherwise his settled selections would suggest it picks itself.
By contrast, Federico Pucciariello (virus), Seán Payne (flu) and John Kelly, who suffered a bang on the head in training, have temporarily joined longer-term casualties Paul O'Connell, Mike Mullins, Christian Cullen, Alan Quinlan and Frankie Sheahan on the absentee list, but Munster can arguably absorb this hit more readily than any other province.
Frankie Roche comes in for Marcus Horan in an otherwise unchanged pack from the one which helped demolish Castres five weeks ago. The only changes from the back line which played that day sees Jeremy Manning continue at fullback and Anton Pitout starts on the wing. Peter Stringer becomes the 13th Munster player to reach 100 caps for the province on the day their most capped player, Anthony Foley, plays his 150th game.
MUNSTER: J Manning; A Pitout, G Connolly, T Halstead, A Horgan; R O'Gara, P Stringer; F Roche, J Flannery, J Hayes, D O'Callaghan, M O'Driscoll, D Leamy, D Wallace, A Foley (capt). Replacements: M Horan, D Fogarty, T Horgan, S Keogh, T O'Leary, B Murphy, M Lawlor.
ULSTER (possible): B Cunningham; T Bowe, A Trimble, P Steinmetz, J Topping; D Humphreys, K Campbell; B Young, R Best, S Best (capt), J Harrison, M McCullough, N Best, N McMillan, R Wilson. Replacements: R Moore, N Brady, R Caldwell, S Ferris, I Boss, A Larkin, K Maggs.
Referee: A Rolland (IRFU).
Last three seasons: ('02-03) Ulster 26 Munster 17; (CL s/f) Munster 42 Ulster 10. ('03-04) Munster 15 Ulster 16; Ulster 36 Munster 13. ('04-05) Ulster 3 Munster 24; Munster 21 Ulster 15.
Celtic League formguide: Munster - WWLWWWW. Ulster - WWWLWWL.
Leading try scorers: Munster - J Kelly, M Horan, A Quinlan, A Horgan, G Connolly 2 each. Ulster - N Best 4, T Bowe 3, J Topping 2. Leading points scorers: Munster - R O'Gara 63. Ulster - D Humprheys 69.
Odds (Paddy Powers): 2/7 Munster, 22/1 Draw, 12/5 Ulster. Handicap odds (Ulster + 8pts) 10/11 Munster, 22/1 Draw, 10/11 Ulster.
Forecast: Munster to win.
