Toulouse v Ulster
Not in Ulster's wild dreams would they have envisaged a 38-0 thumping of four-time European champions Toulouse last week - and any win will do in France this time around.
With Saracens in pole position in Pool 1, victory here would boost Les Kiss and company's chances of progressing to the knockout stages no end, after becoming the only team in Champions Cup history to keep Toulouse scoreless.
Back-rower Sean Reidy will make his competition debut while Roger Wilson shifts back into the starting XV at No.8, though the back-line is unchanged.
In contrast this is a much-changed Toulouse team, with former England fly-half Toby Flood and former All Black Luke McAlister absent from the 23, while France stalwart Louis Picamoles is on the bench having recovered from the injury that forced him off early in Belfast.
Toulouse: 15 Alexis Palisson, 14 Semi Kunatani, 13 Gael Fickou, 12 Florian Fritz, 11 Timoci Matanavou, 10 Jean-Marc Doussain, 9 Sebastien Bezy, 1 Cyril Baille, 2 Julien Marchand, 3 Census Johnston, 4 Gregory Lamboley, 5 Yoann Maestri, 6 Yacouba Camara, 7 Thierry Dusautoir, 8 Imanol Harinordoquy
Replacements: 16 Christopher Tolofua, 17 Gurthro Steenkamp, 18 Gert Muller, 19 Joe Tekori, 20 Louis Picamoles, 21 Gillian Galan, 22 David Mele, 23 Clement Poitrenaud
Ulster: 15 Louis Ludik, 14 Andrew Trimble, 13 Luke Marshall, 12 Stuart McCloskey, 11 Craig Gilroy, 10 Paddy Jackson, 9 Ruan Pienaar, 1 Kyle McCall, 2 Rory Best, 3 Wiehan Herbst, 4 Alan O'Connor, 5 Franco van der Merwe, 6 Robbie Diack, 7 Sean Reidy, 8 Roger Wilson.
Replacements: 16 Rob Herring, 17 Andy Warwick, 18 Ricky Lutton, 19 Lewis Stevenson, 20 Nick Williams, 21 Paul Marshall, 22 Ian Humphreys, 23 Rory Scholes.
Sunday 20th December, kick-off 14:00
Leicester Tigers v Munster
Munster are a wounded animal after Leicester Tigers dished out a 31-19 defeat at Thomond Park in Round 3 - and they are traditionally a beast to be aware of on the road.
The loss was Munster's heaviest-ever Champions Cup defeat at home, but they have won five of their last eight away fixtures in the competition, albeit having lost the last two.
Tigers have made an enforced change at fly-half, swapping out the injured Owen Williams for Freddie Burns, while Australian Peter Betham returns at outside centre.
Meanwhile for Munster - who must win this to keep their European ambitions realistically on target - Mike Sherry and John Ryan bolster the front row while grizzled veteran Mark Chisholm slots in at lock.
Leicester: 15 Telusa Veainu, 14 Adam Thompstone, 13 Peter Betham, 12 Matt Smith, 11 Niki Goneva, 10 Freddie Burns, 9 Ben Youngs, 1 Marcos Ayerza, 2 Tom Youngs, 3 Dan Cole, 4 Michael Fitzgerald, 5 Graham Kitchener, 6 Ed Slater, 7 Brendon O'Connor, 8 Lachlan McCaffrey
Replacements: 16 Harry Thacker, 17 Matias Aguero, 18 Fraser Balmain, 19 Dom Barrow, 20 Tom Croft, 21 Sam Harrison, 22 Tommy Bell, 23 Seremaia Bai
Munster: 15 Andrew Conway, 14 Keith Earls, 13 Francis Saili, 12 Denis Hurley, 11 Simon Zebo, 10 Ian Keatley, 9 Conor Murray, 1 James Cronin, 2 Mike Sherry, 3 John Ryan, 4 Mark Chisholm, 5 Donnacha Ryan, 6 Robin Copeland, 7 Dave O'Callaghan, 8 CJ Stander
Replacements: 16 Niall Scannell, 17 Dave Kilcoyne, 18 Mario Sagario, 19 Dave Foley, 20 Jack O'Donoghue, 21 Tomas O'Leary, 22 Rory Scannell, 23 Lucas Amorosino
Sunday 20th December, kick-off 17:15
CHALLENGE CUP
Connacht have impressed all on-lookers so far this season but a win away at Newcastle Falcons could be one of their best achievements yet due to a wretched injury list.
Pat Lam's men will be without 23 players for the clash and were forced to name just seven replacements.
But they are in clear control in Pool 1, having registered an emphatic 23-10 victory over Newcastle at home last week - Jack Carty coming to the fore with the boot.
Connacht have won nine of their last 12 Challenge Cup encounters and Newcastle will aim to stop them reaching double digits by making six changes, with Scotland prop Jon Welsh coming in at tighthead and Alex Tait on the wing.
Newcastle: 15 Simon Hammersley, 14 Alex Tait, 13 Belisario Agulla, 12 Chris Harris, 11 Marcus Watson, 10 Craig Willis, 9 Tane Takulua, 1 Alex Rogers, 2 Scott Lawson, 3 Jon Welsh, 4 Mouritz Botha, 5 Sean Robinson, 6 Will Welch, 7 Dan Temm, 8 Ally Hogg
Replacements: 16 George McGuigan, 17 Rob Vickers, 18 Taione Vea, 19 Calum Green, 20 Richard Mayhew, 21 Micky Young, 22 Tom Catterick, 23 Juan Socino
Connacht: 15 Danie Poolman, 14 Rory Parata, 13 Peter Robb, 12 Craig Ronaldson, 11 Niyi Adeolokun, 10 Shane O'Leary, 9 Caolin Blade, 1 Conan O'Donnell, 2 Jason Harris-Wright, 3 Rodney Ah You, 4 Danny Qualter, 5. Andrew Browne, 6 Sean O'Brien, 7 Eoghan Masterson, 8 George Naoupu
Replacements: 16 Shane Delahunt, 17 Finlay Bealham, 18 Saba Meunargia, 19 Aly Muldowney, 20 David Heffernan, 21 Ian Porter, 22 Jack Carty
Sunday 20th December, kick-off 15:00
To buy tickets for the GUINNESS PRO12 Grand Final click here. Also follow us on Facebook, join the conversation on Twitter, sign up to our YouTube channel for extensive match highlights and sign up for our newsletter for regular updates on the GUINNESS PRO12.
63x46.png){kind=logo}