Connacht have been the surprise package this season and have won their last six matches in all tournaments - five of those with maximum points - and are the form side heading into the fixture.
Connacht's only loss at the Sportsground in any competition this season was 10-3 to Ulster in the PRO12 on 26 December - they have made their home venue a fortress.
Leinster's four-game winning run in the GUINNESS PRO12 ended in Glasgow on Friday in the rearranged round nine fixture, while the Leinstermen have won all three matches they have played against fellow Irish provinces this season.
Leinster has lost just once to Connacht in their last six encounters - 10-9 in Galway in this equivalent fixture in round three last seasons - but the top spot in the table is up for grabs and it's certain to be an epic encounter.
The fixture will also see the league's top two try-scorers lock horns; Connacht's Matt Healy will be looking to add to his nine tries this season, while Leinster skipper Isa Nacewa has also been in deadly form touching down seven times.
Nacewa could also reach 100 GUINNESS PRO12 appearances should he be handed his chance against Connacht.
Connacht's Craig Ronaldson will be hoping for a flawless kicking performance as he chases Newport Gwent Dragons' Jason Tovey in the race to land the Rhino Golden Boot - the gong is awarded for the highest successful kick conversion rate off the tee.
This game will be matched in intensity the previous evening when reigning champions Glasgow Warriors host fourth-placed Ulster with both sides gunning for a play-off spot.
Glasgow have won their last four GUINNESS PRO12 encounters since Ulster claimed a 13-10 win in Belfast in February, while the Warriors have not lost at Scotstoun in the league since round one when Scarlets were the visitors.
Ulster's 32-0 victory over Zebre in Belfast in round 17 ended a two-game losing run while the Ulstermen's last five fixtures against Scottish opponents have all been won by the home side on the day.
Ulster beat Glasgow 13-10 in round 14 but have not achieved a GUINNESS PRO12 season double over the Scottish side since 2011, whilst Ulster's only previous victory at Scotstoun came in Europe in October 2012.
If he plays, Ulster's Roger Wilson will reach a special personal milestone as he will bring up his 150th appearance for the club, while Glasgow's Pat MacArthur could win his 100th cap.
Munster will be hoping to get back to winning ways against Zebre on Friday night; nothing but a win will do as they look to move into the top four and earn a play-off place.
Munster slipped up 37-28 at Cardiff Blues in the rearranged round 12 game last Friday, the first time they had failed to tally a league point from a game in 2016.
The Munstermen beat Dragons 26-5 at Thomond Park in round 17 to end a three-game home losing run in the competition.
In contrast, Zebre have lost their last five GUINNESS PRO12 encounters and have beaten an Irish province just once before: 13-6 over Ulster in Parma in September 2014. The two sides have met on seven previous occasions with Munster winning them all.
Consistency has been the problem for Cardiff this season; flashes of brilliance as showed last weekend against Munster followed by uncharacteristic slip-ups. And the Blues will be hoping it will be nothing but a win against Benetton Treviso on Friday night.
Cardiff Blues only defeat in their last eight fixtures at BT Sport Cardiff Arms Park in all tournaments was by a single point to Leinster in the GUINNESS PRO12 in February. The Blues have lost only once at home to an Italian opponent: 30-25 to Zebre in September 2013.
Benetton Treviso's last four matches in the GUINNESS PRO12 have all been won by the home side on the day whilst the Italians have not won away from home in the tournament since the short trip to Zebre in December 2014.
Cardiff Blues have won only one of their last four fixtures against Benetton Treviso: 36-25 in this equivalent fixture in Cardiff last year. Treviso has never before achieved a season's double over the Blues.
The Scarlets still have realistic ambitions of finishing in the top two this season and with Connacht and Leinster playing against each other this weekend, they know a win at the Ospreys will bring them within touching distance.
Ospreys have slipped to successive defeats in the GUINNESS PRO12, away at Connacht and Leinster, but at Liberty Stadium the Welshmen have suffered only one reversal in their last nine matches in all tournaments: 22-9 to Leinster in round 12.
Scarlets have lost just one of their last four GUINNESS PRO12 fixtures, 24-23 to Edinburgh at BT Murrayfield in round 16., and their only victory in their last four away games in the tournament was by a single point at Ulster in February.
Ospreys only defeat in their last seven encounters with Scarlets was 22-10 at Parc y Scarlets in January 2015. Scarlets only previous victory at Liberty Stadium was 14-9 in the GUINNESS PRO12 in September 2007.
Edinburgh remain only eight points off fourth position and will be hoping a run of wins at the end of the season will propel them into contention but it will be no easy challenge in Wales this weekend.
Newport Gwent Dragons have lost their last five GUINNESS PRO12 fixtures since beating Leinster 23-13 at Rodney Parade in round 13.
The Dragons only victory in their last nine encounters with Scottish opponents in all competitions was 19-5 against Edinburgh in Newport in the GUINNESS PRO12 in May 2015.
Edinburgh's only victory in their last six matches in all tournaments was 24-23 at home to Scarlets on 28 February, whilst the Scotsman's only away victory in the GUINNESS PRO12 since round 2 came when they beat Glasgow 14-11 on 2 January in a fixture which Glasgow were forced to move to BT Murrayfield.
Edinburgh's only defeat in their last seven fixtures with Dragons in all tournaments came in round 21 at Rodney Parade last season.
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 channelfor extensive match highlights and sign up for our newsletter for regular updates on the GUINNESS PRO12.
63x46.png){kind=logo}