Celtic League:This should have been the ideal springboard to launch Leinster and Ulster back into the tail-end of their European Cup pool stages but instead the festivities in both camps have been fairly muted over this holiday period.
Leinster's only remaining aspiration is to lead from the front of the Magners League to the finish in May, while Ulster are desperately scrambling to get off the foot of the table and secure a European place for next season. They are level with Connacht on 11 points after eight games.
So top versus bottom, not that such a statistic will weigh heavily with the players. These teams have plenty of history and no love lost after a fractious 16-16 draw at Ravenhill on October 26th when a virtuoso display from David Humphreys, a half-time replacement for Paddy Wallace, clawed Ulster back into the contest.
Wallace starts again though the 36-year-old returns to the bench, the former Ireland under-20 outhalf Niall O'Connor dropping out of the reckoning.
Justin Fitzpatrick is in for Bryan Young at loosehead prop while Isaac Boss is back at scrumhalf instead of Kieran Campbell.
The other notable inclusion is the Kiwi Grant Webb as backrow cover. The 28-year-old arrived in Belfast last week.
Leinster coach Michael Cheika has delayed his final selection amid confusion over the fitness of captain Brian O'Driscoll. On the evidence of last weekend in Edinburgh, the Ireland captain has ongoing ankle problems and should be rested. He is, however, provisionally named in the team.
If O'Driscoll drops out, Gordon D'Arcy will switch to 13 and Felipe Contepomi to inside centre and Johnny Sexton will get another chance at outhalf - where he produced a kicking masterclass in Ravenhill. This may be a positive change as the Leinster midfield in its current format has struggled of late. Also, Contepomi provides a decent foil for Sexton, while D'Arcy can focus on breaking the gainline.
With Shane Horgan nursing a damaged rib, Luke Fitzgerald comes on to the right wing. Guy Easterby is retained at scrumhalf with Chris Keane in reserve.
The pack is also full of either/or scenarios as the revolving-flanker system looks set to continue.
There is, of course, the matter of international pecking order with the Six Nations just over five weeks away, making inclusion in the Leinster backrow crucial for Shane Jennings.
Tommy Bowe has been the form Irish winger of late and can enhance that standing in his duel with Rob Kearney. Andrew Trimble must also be eyeing up the squad announcement on January 14th.
Ulster showed signs of revival in the 16-8 defeat to the Ospreys and with the seemingly imminent appointment of Matt Williams as coach and the return of Humphreys they may have the edge.
Unstable times but at Leinster they won't be too perturbed about that. Back at home, a big crowd should be enough to entice a performance out of the hosts. If not, well, more serious underlying problems may exist.
LEINSTER: G Dempsey; L Fitzgerald, B O'Driscoll(capt)/G D'Arcy, G D'Arcy/F Contepomi, R Kearney, F Contepomi/J Sexton, G Easterby; O le Roux, B Jackman, S Wright; L Cullen, M O'Kelly, S Jennings/S Keogh, S Jennings/K Gleeson, J Heaslip. Replacements: B Blaney, C Healy/S Knoop, C Jowitt, AN Other, C Keane, AN Other, G Brown/C Warner.
ULSTER: B Cunningham; T Bowe, A Trimble, R Dewey, S Danielli; P Wallace, I Boss; J Fitzpatrick, R Best (capt), D Fitzpatrick; J Harrison, R Caldwell; N Best, K Dawson, M McCullough. Replacements: B Young, N Brady, C Del Fava, G Webb, D Pollock, P Marshall, D Humphreys.
Referee: P Fitzgibbon (IRFU).
Verdict: Leinster.
