RUGBY: POOL A: Ulster v Munster: On formlines through Ebbw Vale, Edinburgh and Swansea, Munster would be entitled to start warm favourites in tonight's second all-Irish contest of the season.
But, not alone does form largely go out the window in domestic rivalries, there's also the Ravenhill factor, where Ulster have won eight of their last nine competitive games.
In ending a run of six successive defeats to Munster last May, Ulster served to remind Munster that Ravenhill has been their least productive venue in Ireland this past couple of decades.
With Munster in splendid isolation atop Pool A with four wins from four, Ulster's need is arguably the greater given they're nine points adrift of them and just outside the play-off zone.
Undoubtedly Jim Williams's absence is a significant blow for Munster but, as Ulster coach Alan Solomons says, Munster have twice as much depth in experienced players as any of the other provinces.
Hence, even without Williams, David Wallace, Anthony Foley and Alan Quinlan, they can still field a back line of Donnacha O'Callaghan at blindside (arguably his best position) and Eddie Halvey at number eight while giving the promising Denis Leamy another run at openside.
Victory would almost certainly assure Munster of a place in the play-offs and leave them within one win of ensuring a home quarter-final.
ULSTER: B Cunningham; J Topping, R Constable, J Bell, T Howe; A Larkin, N Doak; J Fitzpatrick, M Sexton, R Kempson, M Blair, J Davidson (capt), W Brosnihan, T McWhirter, N McMillan. Replacements: S Best, P Shields, P Johns, N Best, K Campbell, S Stewart, S Young.
MUNSTER: J Staunton; D Crotty, M Mullins, J Holland, M Lawlor; K Keane, M Prendergast; M Horan, J Blaney, R Laffan, M Galwey, M O'Driscoll, D O'Callaghan, E Halvey, D Leamy. Replacements: J Fogarty, S Kerr, T Hogan, C McMahon, D Malone, C Mahony, C Huppert.
Referee: Paul Adams (Wales).
Last three seasons: 1999-2000: Ulster 24 Munster 25, Munster 36 Ulster 19. 2000-1: Ulster 16 Munster 21, Munster 29 Ulster 21. 2001-2: (CL s/f, Lansdowne Road) Munster 15 Ulster 9, Ulster 23 Munster 18.
Formguide: Ulster - W 19-0 (a) v Ebbw Vale; L 18-19 (h) v Edinburgh; L 10-38 (a) v Swansea; W 17-13 (h) v Neath. Munster - W 20-13 (a) v Llanelli; W 48-23 (h) v Ebbw Vale; W 28-21 (a) v Edinburgh; W 38-27 (h) v Swansea.
Leading points scorers: Ulster - Paddy Wallace 23 pts. Munster - Jeremy Staunton 54 pts.
Leading try scorers: Ulster - Tyrone Howe 2. Munster - Mossie Lawlor 3, Mike Mullins, Dominic Crotty 2 each.
Odds (Paddy Powers): Handicap betting
(= Ulster +4pts) 10/11 Ulster, 16/1 Draw, 10/11 Munster.
Also playing: Edinburgh Rugby v Llanelli (7.30); Neath v Ebbw Vale (7.05).
POOL B: Borders v Leinster,
Galashiels (7.30)
The baby blues, having cut their teeth, now have to show their fangs. As even Matt Williams concedes, Leinster probably must win if they are to retain any hope of holding on to their crown.
"Because of the bonus points and the (leading) teams playing each other it's a bit hard to 'crystal-ball' it all the way. But there's no good worrying about the others and I think we need to win all three," admits the Leinster coach.
Leinster need to be more streetwise tonight, in playing territory more and keeping the scoreboard ticking over. It'll be tougher than the table suggests as Leinster have no soft touches on their run-in. For example, Borders are bottom, but they've only lost one game by more than seven points.
Indeed, Borders have outscored their opponents in tries in three of their four matches and any team containing Gregor Townsend, Gary Armstrong and Doddie Weir, as Williams put it, "are not a bunch of mugs" This is Borders' first game at their refurbished, home-to-be of Galashiels, and will have that additional mental edge to their performance against a Leinster side for whom Victor Costello is a doubt due to a calf strain. Des Dillon would move to number eight, with Aidan McCullen playing at blindside.
"They're a Scottish provincial team, and straight from that script," says Williams. "Never stop; run from everywhere; a competent kicking game; big, strong centres; a very well organised defence, and play with great width."
Leinster have since lost on their last three competitive visits to Scotland. They cannot afford another one.
BORDERS: T Vili; C Moir, J Stuart, K Utterson, N Walker; G Townsend, G Armstrong (capt); P Thompson, S Scott, B Douglas, D Weir, R Metcalfe, C Feather, M Taylor, S Sititi. Replacements: S Paterson, C Laidlaw, I Fairley, A Rennick, C Stewart, C Dunlea, S Gunn.
LEINSTER: C Warner; J McWeeney, K Lewis, S Horgan, G D'Arcy; A Dunne, B O'Meara; E Byrne, P Smyth (capt), N Treston, B Gissing, A Kearney, D Dillon, V Costello, L Toland. Replacements: P Coyle, G Hickie, A McCullen, N Breslin, S Keogh, M Leek/G Brown, D Quinlan.
Referee: Hugh Watkins (Wales).
Previous meetings: 1996-97 (European Cup) Scottish Borders 25 Leinster 34.
Formguide: Borders - L 27-28 (h) v Connacht; L 9-41 (a) v Bridgend; L 15-18 (h) v Cardiff; L 27-28 (a) v Pontypridd. Leinster - W 31-18 (h) v Pontypridd; L 21-25 (a) v Glasgow; L 23-26 (h) v Connacht; L 17-30 (a) v Cardiff.
Leading points scorers: Borders - Kevin Utterson 43 pts. Leinster - Brian O'Meara 26 pts.
Leading try scorers: Borders - Cammie Murray 2. Leinster - Denis Hickie, Brian O'Driscoll, Keith Gleeson 2 each.
Odds: Handicap betting (= Leinster +2pts) 10/11 Borders, 16/1 Draw, 10/11 Leinster.
