STAT ATTACK: Big names return as play-off race heats up

The battle at the top of the point scorers' table is incredibly tight, with five men all within four points of each other as the big names return from international duty.

Currently top of the pile are Munster's Ian Keatley and Cardiff Blue Rhys Patchell, who have both notched 117 points.

Keatley and Munster face Connacht at Thomond Park on Saturday while Patchell's Blues face a daunting trip to the Kingspan Stadium to take on Ulster.

Ulster have shared goalkicking duties between Ian Humphreys, Ruan Pienaar and Paddy Jackson as international availability, form and fitness has permitted so do not have a man up at the top of the charts.

But they do boast the league's top try scorer in Craig Gilroy, the winger has grabbed eight tries and counting for the Ulstermen.

But Wales scrum-half Rhys Webb returns to club duty this weekend and he is only one try behind on seven while his half-back partner Dan Biggar also swaps his Wales shirt for an Ospreys one.

The fly-half currently tops the Rhino Golden Boot standings with 42 successful kicks from 45 for a success rating of 93.33 per cent and will hope to improve on that when they host Zebre.

Leinster's Ian Madigan is in second on 87.80 per cent with 36 from 41 and the defending champions face a monster clash against Glasgow Warriors on Friday night.

Leinster are battling hard to get into the play-off spots while Warriors, runners-up to Leinster in the final last year, currently top the standings by four clear points.

Flanker James Eddie is in line for his 100th career PRO12 appearance if selected for the clash while DTH van der Merwe has six tries in the league so far.

Scarlets and Edinburgh, the other two teams realistically challenging Connacht for a place in Europe's top tier next season, also face each other on Saturday. Neither of them have been in the top half of the table since early in the season, but could find themselves elevated if other results go their way.

And last but by no means least, Benetto Treviso host Newport Gwent Dragons hoping to close the gap to their Welsh opponents in tenth spot in the table.

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