The second down week of the Guinness Six Nations sees the Irish provinces back in BKT United Rugby Championship action.
Round 11 is also marked as an 'origin round' with the many of the players wearing clubs socks.
After beating second-place Benetton in round 10, Leinster face a trip to Cardiff as they seek to extend their lead at the top of the table.
Ulster have their first game since the sacking of Dan McFarland as they welcome the Dragons to Belfast.
Connacht, who scraped past Cardiff last time out, host the Scarlets, while Munster kick things off with a home tie against Zebre Parma.
Find out all you need to know here.
ONLINE
We'll have live scoring, trackers, as well as reports and reaction from the games.
TV
Cardiff v Leinster (Saturday, 7.35pm) is live on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player.
TG4 will be showing live coverage of Munster v Zebre (Friday, 7.35pm) and Connacht v Scarlets (Saturday 5.05pm), while Ulster v Dragons (Saturday, 7.35pm) is on Premier Sports.
All games are shown live on URC.tv.
RADIO
Updates from Connacht on RTÉ Radio 1's Saturday Sport.
WEATHER
Cork may see some light rain showers in about 2C this evening. The forecast for Galway tomorrow afternoon is for light rain with temperatures up about 4C.
Cardiff is set for a clear night for Leinster's visit, temperatures around 5C, while Ulster can expect some rain showers during their game in similar temperatures.
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Graham Rowntree's side will look to build on their 42-7 win over Scarlets in round ten as they head down the final strait of the regular season.
Sitting in ninth, a win tonight could see them move as high as fourth, depending on results elsewhere.
They have beaten Zebre in all 19 previous meetings.
The Italian side’s only victory in the URC this season was 12-10 at home to Sharks in round four and they have won once away from home in 2023/24, at Oyonnax in the Challenge Cup.
Fabio Roselli 's men have not beaten an Irish province since they visited Connacht in February 2018.
Leonard Krumov will make his 100th appearance for Zebre with Josh Kaifa and Samuele Taddei in line to make their debuts if called upon from the bench.
Four Munster academy players are involved as Tony Butler and Ruadhán Quinn both start with Ethan Coughlan and Ben O'Connor among the replacements, while Craig Casey and RG Snyman also start.
Munster: Mike Haley (Preston Grasshoppers); Seán O'Brien (Mullingar RFC), Antoine Frisch (Paris Université Club), Alex Nankivell (Christchurch Boys High School), Shane Daly (Highfield RFC); Tony Butler (Ennis RFC), Craig Casey (Shannon RFC); Josh Wycherley (Bantry Bay RFC), Niall Scannell (PBC Cork), John Ryan (Muskerry RFC); Tom Ahern (Youghal RFC), RG Snyman (Afrikaanse Hoër Seunskool); Ruadhán Quinn (Ballina-Killaloe RFC), Alex Kendellen (PBC Cork) (capt), Gavin Coombes (Skibbereen RFC)
Replacements: Eoghan Clarke (CBC Monkstown), Jeremy Loughman (Athy RFC), Stephen Archer (Cork Constitution FC), Fineen Wycherley (Bantry Bay RFC), Jack O'Sullivan (Sunday's Well RFC), Ethan Coughlan (Ennis RFC), Rory Scannell (PBC Cork), Ben O’Connor (Highfield RFC).
Zebre Parma: Geronimo Prisciantelli (Club Atlético de San Isidro); Scott Gregory (Hikurangi RFC), Luca Morisi (A.S. Rugby Milano), Damiano Mazza (Rugby Parma F.C. 1931), Simone Gesi (Livorno Rugby); Tiff Eden (Cheltenham Tigers RFC), Alessandro Fusco (Amatori Napoli Rugby); Luca Rizzoli (Unione Rugby Capitolina), Luca Bigi (Rugby Reggio), Muhamed Hasa (A.S. Rugby Milano); David Sisi (Tottonians RFC), Leonard Krumov (Crema Rugby Club); Giacomo Ferrari (Unione Rugby Capitolina), Bautista Stavile (Mendoza Rugby Club), Giovanni Licata (Miraglia Rugby Agrigento) (capt).
Replacements: Giampietro Ribaldi (Caimani Rugby), Samuele Taddei (Frascati Rugby Union), Riccardo Genovese (CUS Torino Rugby), Dylan de Leeuw (Western Province), Davide Ruggeri (Rugby Como), Thomas Dominguez (Club Atlético de San Isidro), Jacopo Trulla (Rugby Vicenza), Josh Kaifa (Auckland Rugby).
Referee: Adam Jones (WRU, 33rd game)
Connacht have won their last two championship matches, at home to Munster and away in Cardiff, and have not won three URC games in succession since the start of this campaign.
Pete Wilkin's side's only championship defeat at Dexcom Stadium in their last nine matches was 24-22 to Leinster in early December and they have won their last nine fixtures against Welsh regions since the Dragons beat them in Galway in October 2021.
Connemara man Eoin de Buitléar is handed his first start for his home province.
Scarlets have lost their last ten fixtures against Irish provinces since beating Saturday's opponents, Connacht, 41-36 in Llanelli in March 2021.
The hosts have won their last two encounters with Scarlets and have never managed three successive wins against the Welshmen.
Connacht: Tiernan O'Halloran (Connemara RFC/Garbally College); Byron Ralston (Sinnamon Park Mudcrabs), David Hawkshaw (Coolmine RFC), Cathal Forde (Corinthians RFC/Coláiste Iognáid), Andrew Smith (Bective Rangers); JJ Hanrahan (Castleisland RFC), Caolin Blade (Monivea RFC) (capt); Peter Dooley (Birr RFC), Eoin de Buitlear (An Ghaeltacht Rugbai/Scoil Chuimsitheach Chiaráin), Jack Aungier (Suttonians RFC); Niall Murray (Buccaneers RFC), Gavin Thornbury (Blackrock College RFC); Cian Prendergast (Newbridge RFC), Shamus Hurley-Langton (Coastal Rugby), Sean Jansen (Green Island RFC).
Replacements: Dave Heffernan (Ballina RFC), Denis Buckley (Creggs RFC), Sam Illo (Old Wesley RFC), Oisin Dowling (Lansdowne RFC), Seán O'Brien (Greystones RFC), Michael McDonald (Dundalk RFC), Jack Carty (Buccaneers RFC / Marist College), Conor Oliver (Skerries RFC)
Scarlets: Ioan Nicholas (Pontyberem); Tomi Lewis (Gwernyfed), Johnny Williams (Rams), Eddie James (Carmarthen Quins), Steff Evans (Felinfoel); Dan Jones (Carmarthen Quins), Efan Jones (Wrexham); Wyn Jones (Llandovery), Shaun Evans (Felinfoel), Sam Wainwright (Rhyl & District); Alex Craig (Stewartry), Jac Price (Carmarthen Quins); Sam Lousi (Bay Roskill Vikings (capt), Dan Davis (Llandeilo), Vaea Fifita (Lions, Tonga).
Replacements: Eduan Swart (Pumas), Steff Thomas (Newcastle Emlyn), Joe Jones (Mold), Morgan Jones (Hinckley), Ben Williams (Gilfach Goch), Archie Hughes (Tenby), Charlie Titcombe (Stamford), Ryan Conbeer (Narberth)
Referee: Federico Vedovelli (FIR, 6th game)
League leaders Leinster will be looking to avoid a repeat showing when they visit the Arms Park. Two years ago, a strong visiting outfit fell 29-27 to the Welsh side.
Leo Cullen's side have won their last seven matches against Welsh regions since that game in January 2022. That win was Cardiff’s only success over Leinster since February 2011
The hosts only win in the last four rounds of the United Rugby Championship was 55-21 at home to Dragons on St Stephen's Day and their only victory over an Irish province since January 2022 was 20-13 against Munster at the Arms Park in September 2022.
Leinster have lost just twice in the BKT United Rugby Championship this season, 43-25 at Glasgow in Round 1 and 22-21 at home to Ulster in Round 9.
Josh Turnbull returns to captain Cardiff Rugby on his 200th appearance, while Jordan Larmour is set to make 100th appearance for Leinster.
Cardiff: Jacob Beetham (Brecon Comp, CAVC); Owen Lane (Whitchurch, Cowbridge), Max Clark (Bryanston ), Ben Thomas (Corpus Christi, CAVC), Aled Summerhill (Porth County, Coleg y Cymoedd ); Tinus de Beer (Waterkloof, University of Pretoria ) Ellis Bevan (Bryanston, Cardiff Met); Rhys Carré (Corpus Christi, Cowbridge ), Liam Belcher (Porth County, Coleg y Cymoedd ), Will Davies-King (Chepstow Comp, Kings School, Cardiff Met); Shane Lewis-Hughes (Cymmer, Coleg y Cymoedd), Josh Turnbull (Ysgol Gyfun Emly, Coleg Sir Gar) (capt); Ellis Jenkins (Bryn Celynnog, Cardiff Uni), Thomas Young (Rhydywaun), Lopeti Timani (Tonga College Atele).
Replacements: Dafydd Hughes (Llandovery), Rhys Barratt (Bryn Celynnog, Coleg y Cymoedd), Ciaran Parker (St Ambrose College), Ben Donnell (Henry Beaufort, Peter Symonds College), Alun Lawrence (Ysgol Llanhari, Coleg y Cymoedd, USW), Lucas de la Rua (Corpus Christi, CAVC), Matthew Aubrey (Pontarddulais Comp, Gower College), Willis Halaholo (Avondale College, Mount Albert Grammar).
Leinster: Jordan Larmour (Wanderers FC); Liam Turner (Blackrock College RFC / Blackrock College), Jamie Osborne (Naas RFC), Harry Byrne (Old Belvedere RFC / St. Michael's College), Rob Russell (Wanderers FC / St. Michael’s College); Ross Byrne (Old Belvedere RFC / St. Michael’s College), Luke McGrath (Old Belvedere RFC / St. Michael’s College); Jack Boyle (Old Wesley RFC / St Michael’s College), Lee Barron (St. Michael’s College / Lansdowne FC), Thomas Clarkson (Wicklow RFC / Blackrock College); Ross Molony (Lansdowne FC / St. Michael’s College), Jason Jenkins (St Alban's College); Will Connors (North Kildare RFC / Clongowes Wood College), Scott Penny (Lansdowne FC / St. Michael’s College) (capt), Max Deegan (Wanderers FC / St. Michael’s College).
Replacements: John McKee (Ards RFC), Michael Milne (Birr RFC), Michael Ala’alatoa (West Harbour RFC), Brian Deeny (Wexford Wanderers RFC), Rhys Ruddock (South Gower RFC), Ben Murphy (Seapoint Rugby Club / Presentation College, Bray), Sam Prendergast (Newbridge College), Ben Brownlee (Wanderers FC / Blackrock College).
Referee: Mike Adamson (SRU, 77th game)
Ulster begin the post-Dan McFarland era with a home tie against the second-from-bottom Dragons. Assistant Dan Soper takes the reins before Richie Murphy takes interim charge after the Under-20 Six Nations
They have won just two of their last five United Rugby Championship fixtures, both of those by a solitary point, at home to Connacht in Round 8 and at Leinster in Round 9.
Their only defeat at Kingspan Stadium in the Championship this campaign was 27-24 to Edinburgh in Round 7.
Dragons only victory in their last five championship matches was 13-12 at home to Scarlets on New Year’s Day.
They have not won outside of Wales in the Championship since beating Connacht in Galway in October 2021.
Dragons most recent victory against Ulster came at Rodney Parade in March 2015 although the two did draw 32-all at the same venue in December 2017.
They have won just twice at Kingspan Stadium: 28-21 in October 2004 and 16-14 in September 2008.
Ulster: Will Addison (Upper Eden RUFC); Ethan McIlroy (Ballynahinch RFC), James Hume (capt) (Instonians RFC), Jude Postlethwaite (Lisburn RFC), Mike Lowry (Dromore RFC); Billy Burns (Walcot RFC), John Cooney (Gonzaga College); Steven Kitshoff (Maties RFC), Tom Stewart (Belfast Academy), Tom O'Toole (Ashbourne RFC); Cormac Izuchukwu (Tullamore RFC), Harry Sheridan (Civil Service NI RFC); David McCann (Cooke RFC), Marcus Rea (Ballymena RFC), Nick Timoney (Blackrock College).
Replacements: John Andrew (Ballymena RFC), Andrew Warwick (Ballymena RFC), Scott Wilson (Dromore RFC), Kieran Treadwell (Chipstead RFC), Sean Reffell (Bromley RFC), Nathan Doak (Lisburn RFC), Luke Marshall (Ballymena RFC), Jacob Stockdale (Ballynahinch RFC).
Dragons: Ewan Rosser (Pontypool United RFC); Joe Westwood (Blackwood RFC), Steff Hughes (Llanelli Wanderers) (capt), Aneurin Owen (Newport High School Old Boys RFC), Corey Baldwin (Llandeilo RFC); Will Reed (Cwmbran RFC), Dane Blacker (Ynysybwl RFC); Rodrigo Martinez (Los Tordos RFC), James Benjamin (Whiteheads RFC), Chris Coleman (Garndiffaith RFC); Sean Lonsdale (Rhyl RFC), Matthew Screech (Porth Harlequins); Dan Lydiate (Rhayader RFC), Harry Taylor (Chepstow RFC), Taine Basham (Talywain RFC).
Replacements: Brodie Coghlan (Newport High School Old Boys RFC), Aki Seiuli (Taieri Eels RFC), Luke Yendle (Caerphilly RFC), Barny Langton-Cryer (Cowbridge RFC), George Nott (Chester RUFC), Gonzalo Bertranou (Los Tordos RFC), Harri Ackerman (Newbridge RFC), Huw Anderson (Caerphilly RFC).
Referee: Gianluca Gnecchi (FIR. 29th game)
FULL LIST OF RESULTS, FIXTURES AND TABLE
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