The other four games are all on Friday night, with second placed Cardiff Blues and Llanelli Scarlets in third place both looking to return to winning ways after defeats between Christmas and New Year.
The Blues are at home to Edinburgh - with the Scottish side looking for their first win in Wales since May 2006.
The Scarlets travel to Connacht, as the form team in the league, having secured 20 league points from their last six matches. They have also beaten Connacht on five of the last six meetings with the western Province.
Connacht are currently equally on points at the foot of the table with Ulster who face Irish rivals Munster at Ravenhill. The former champions have had a wretched season with only one win in their last 12 games, while Munster have won five of their last six against fellow Irish provinces.
The fifth game of the round is in Glasgow where Newport Gwent Dragons are the visitors. The Dragons win over The Scarlets last time out put some distance between themselves and the bottom two and they will be looking to build on that momentum in Scotland. Glasgow Warriors have only once won in their eight meetings and the Dragons were the last Welsh region to win in Glasgow - back in September 2006.
Friday 4 January
CARDIFF BLUES v EDINBURGH RUGBY
At Arms Park , 7.10pm Live on BBC Wales, Setanta Sport
Referee: George Clancy (IRFU). Touch Judges: James Jones (WRU), David Williams (WRU).
TMO: Gareth Simmonds (WRU).
HEAD TO HEAD - PREVIOUS LEAGUE MEETINGS |
|
||||
Date |
Venue |
C |
E |
Cardiff Blues scorers |
Edinburgh scorers |
Fri 6 Feb 04 |
Meadowbank |
50 |
10 |
Donovan Van Vuuren(T) Nick Walne(T) Matt Cockbain(T) Rob Appleyard(T) Matt Allen(T) Jonny Vaughton(T) Nick Macleod(T) Nick Robinson(6C/P) |
Conan Sharman(T) Alistair Warnock(C/D) |
Thu 13 May 04 |
Arms Park |
55 |
22 |
T.Rhys Thomas(T) Iestyn Harris(4C/P) Jamie Robinson(2T) Dan Baugh(T) Rhys Williams(2T) Andrew Lewis(T) Nick Robinson(2C) Pieter Muller(T) |
Mike Blair(T) Alistair Warnock(T/2C/P) Conan Sharman(T) |
Sat 2 Oct 04 |
Murrayfield |
16 |
35 |
Penalty Try(T) Nick Macleod(C/3P) |
Derrick Lee(T) Mike Pyke(T) Chris Paterson(2C/7P) |
Fri 28 Jan 05 |
Arms Park |
12 |
17 |
Ryan Powell(T) Martin Jones(T) Nick Macleod(C) |
Derrick Lee(T) Simon Webster(T) Brendan Laney(2C/P) |
Fri 27 Jan 06 |
Arms Park |
9 |
13 |
Lee Thomas(3P) |
Francisco Leonelli Morey(T) Duncan Hodge(C/P) Rory Lawson(D) |
Fri 7 Apr 06 |
Murrayfield |
21 |
10 |
Nick Robinson(2T/3C) Gethin Jenkins(T) |
Allister Hogg(T) Chris Paterson(C/P) |
Fri 3 Nov 06 |
Murrayfield |
23 |
13 |
Ben White(T) Ben Blair(C/2P) Tom James(T) Xavier Rush(T) |
Andrew Kelly(T) Chris Paterson(C/2P) |
Sat 14 Apr 07 |
Arms Park |
48 |
0 |
Ben Blair(2T/3C) Andy Powell(T) Rhys Williams(3T) Nick Macleod(T/C) Mike Phillips(T) |
- |
Cardiff Blues have won their last five home games in all competitions since Leinster won at the Arms Park in the Magners League on 12 October. The Blues have not lost at home to a Scottish side since Edinburgh won 13-9 at the Arms Park in January 2006.
Edinburgh have won four of their last five matches in all competitions. On the road Edinburgh have won just once since October 2006: 20-14 at Ulster in the Magners League on 30 November 2007. Edinburgh 's last win in Wales was 37-11 against the Dragons at Rodney Parade on 13 May 2006.
The Blues have won the last three matches they have played against Edinburgh .
Friday 4 January
CONNACHT v LLANELLI SCARLETS
At the Sportsground, 6.30pm.
Referee: Andy Macpherson (SRU). Touch Judges: P Fitzgibbon (IRFU), L Colgan (IRFU).
HEAD TO HEAD - PREVIOUS LEAGUE MEETINGS |
|
||||
Date |
Venue |
C |
L |
Connacht scorers |
Llanelli Scarlets scorers |
Fri 24 Oct 03 |
Dubarry Park |
20 |
25 |
Conor McPhillips(T) Darren Yapp(T) Eric Elwood(2C/2P) |
Mike Phillips(T) Tal Selley(T) Gareth Bowen(2C/2P) Matthew Watkins(T) |
Fri 26 Mar 04 |
Stradey Park |
33 |
33 |
Wayne Munn(2T) Penalty Try(T) Matt Mostyn(T) Eric Elwood(2C/3P) |
Bryn Griffiths(T) Matthew Watkins(T) Tal Selley(T) Gareth Bowen(3C/4P) |
Sat 9 Oct 04 |
Stradey Park |
29 |
21 |
Conor O'Loughlin(T) Ted Robinson(T) Conor McPhillips(T) Michael Swift(T) Paul Warwick(2C) Eric Elwood(C) Mark McHugh(P) |
Dwayne Peel(T) Dafydd Jones(T) Gareth Bowen(C/3P) |
Fri 18 Feb 05 |
Dubarry Park |
11 |
18 |
Matt Lacey(T) Paul Warwick(2P) |
Mike Phillips(2T) Gareth Bowen(C/2P) |
Sat 17 Sep 05 |
Racecourse Ground |
17 |
25 |
Paul Warwick(T/C) Frik Venter(T) David Slemen(C/D) |
Aled Gravelle(T) Inoke Afeaki(T) Lee Byrne(T) Gareth Bowen(2C/2P) |
Sat 18 Feb 06 |
Sportsground |
33 |
19 |
Colm Rigney(T) Paul Warwick(T/2C/4P) David Slemen(T/C) |
Darren Daniel(T) Regan King(T) Mike Hercus(2P) Gareth Bowen(P) |
Fri 15 Sep 06 |
Sportsground |
15 |
37 |
Matt Mostyn(T) Mark McHugh(T/C/P) |
Darren Daniel(T) Simon Easterby(T) Regan King(2T) Stephen Jones(4C/3P) |
Fri 11 May 07 |
Stradey Park |
10 |
19 |
Mark McHugh(C/P) John Muldoon(T) |
Gavin Evans(T) Ceiron Thomas(2T/2C) |
Fri 28 Sep 07 |
Stradey Park |
11 |
34 |
Tim Donnelly(2P) John Fogarty(T) |
Jon Davies(T) Regan King(T) Rhys Priestland(4C/2P) Morgan Stoddart(T) Vernon Cooper(T) |
Connacht have lost just one of their last five home games at the Sportsground in all competitions. Connacht have beaten Welsh opponents just once since October 2006: 22-7 at home to the Dragons on 21 September.
Llanelli Scarlets are the best team in the Magners League on current form having secured 20 league points from their last six matches. The Scarlets have won only one of their last four encounters, whilst away from home the Scarlets have now lost five in succession. The Llanelli based side have won in Ireland this season: 52-23 against Leinster at the RDS in the Magners League on 5 October.
The Scarlets have won five of the last six games they have played against Connacht .
Friday 4 January
GLASGOW WARRIORS v NEWPORT GWENT DRAGONS
At Firhill Arena, 7.30pm.
Referee: David Keane (IRFU). Touch Judges: Neil Paterson (SRU), David Anderson (SRU).
HEAD TO HEAD - PREVIOUS LEAGUE MEETINGS |
|
||||
Date |
Venue |
G |
N |
Glasgow Warriors scorers |
Newport Gwent Dragons scorers |
Sun 12 Oct 03 |
Rodney Parade |
5 |
27 |
Sean Lamont(T) |
Jason Forster(T) Rhys M. Thomas(T) Craig Warlow(C/5P) |
Fri 5 Mar 04 |
Hughenden |
48 |
20 |
Dan Parks(T/5C/P) Donnie Macfadyen(T) Rory Kerr(2T) Sam Pinder(T) Roland Reid(T) Dave Millard(T) |
Percy Montgomery(T/5P) |
Fri 24 Sep 04 |
Hughenden |
29 |
38 |
Donnie Macfadyen(T) Paul Dearlove(T) Dan Parks(2C/5P) |
Gareth Cooper(T) Jamie Ringer(T) Kevin Morgan(T) Rod Snow(T) Ceri Sweeney(3C/3P) Sione Tuipulotu(D) |
Sat 22 Jan 05 |
Rodney Parade |
16 |
21 |
Kevin Tkachuk(T) Dan Parks(C/D/2P) |
Ceri Sweeney(T/3C) Chris Anthony(T) Percy Montgomery(T) |
Fri 2 Sep 05 |
Hughenden |
15 |
21 |
Stevie Swindall(T) Dan Parks(C/P) Mike Roberts(T) |
Jason Forster(2T) Gareth Wyatt(T) Craig Warlow(3C) |
Fri 28 Apr 06 |
Rodney Parade |
18 |
32 |
Dan Parks(T/C/2P) Colin Shaw(T) |
Jason Forster(2T) Adam Black(T) Nathan Brew(T) Craig Warlow(3C/2P) |
Fri 1 Sep 06 |
Hughenden |
23 |
24 |
Sam Pinder(T) Graeme Morrison(T) Dan Parks(2C/2P) Colin Gregor(P) |
Ceri Sweeney(T/C/3P) Aled Brew(T) Mike Hercus(D) |
Fri 2 Mar 07 |
Rodney Parade |
3 |
13 |
Dan Parks(P) |
Ceri Sweeney(C/2P) Ashley Smith(T) |
Glasgow Warriors have won just one of their last four matches: 9-6 at home to Biarritz in the European Cup on 9 December. Glasgow's only home defeat since the opening match of the 2006-07 season was 8-19 to Ulster at Hughenden on 6 January 2007.
Newport Gwent Dragons' 15-13 victory over the Scarlets on New Year's Day was their first Magners League win since October. The Dragons only win in their last five away games was at Treviso in the European Cup on 8 December.
The two sides have met on eight previous occasions with Glasgow victorious just once: 48-20 at Hughenden in March 2004. Newport Gwent Dragons were in fact the last Welsh region to win in Glasgow , doing so 24-23 at Hughenden on 1 September 2006.
Friday 4 January
ULSTER v MUNSTER
At Ravenhill, 7.30pm. Live on Setanta Sports
Referee: Alain Rolland (IRFU). Touch Judges: A Rogan (IRFU), E O'Dowd (IRFU).
TMO: Marshall Kilgore (IRFU)
HEAD TO HEAD - PREVIOUS LEAGUE MEETINGS |
|
||||
Date |
Venue |
U |
M |
Ulster scorers |
Munster scorers |
Sat 8 Dec 01 |
Lansdowne Road SF |
9 |
15 |
David Humphreys(3P) |
Ronan O'Gara(5P) |
Fri 27 Sep 02 |
Ravenhill |
26 |
17 |
Neil Doak(2T/2C/4P) |
Jeremy Staunton(D/2P) Jason Holland(D) Mossie Lawlor(T) |
Fri 3 Jan 03 |
Thomond Park SF |
10 |
42 |
David Humphreys(T/C/P) |
John Kelly(T) Mike Mullins(T) Ronan O'Gara(3C/3P) John Hayes(T) Alan Quinlan(T) Killian Keane(C) Mick Galwey(T) |
Fri 10 Oct 03 |
Musgrave Park |
16 |
15 |
Seamus Mallon(T) Adam Larkin(C/3P) |
Jeremy Staunton(5P) |
Fri 5 Mar 04 |
Ravenhill |
36 |
13 |
Paddy Wallace(T/2C) Neil McMillan(T) Matt Sexton(T) Scott Young(T) Adam Larkin(4P) |
Frank Murphy(T) Mossie Lawlor(C/2P) |
Sat 6 Nov 04 |
Ravenhill |
3 |
24 |
Adam Larkin(P) |
Mossie Lawlor(T) Shaun Payne(T) Paul Burke(C/4P) |
Fri 18 Mar 05 |
Musgrave Park |
15 |
21 |
Roger Wilson(T) Tommy Bowe(T) Paddy Wallace(C/D) |
John Kelly(T) David Wallace(T) Paul Burke(C/3P) |
Sat 3 Dec 05 |
Musgrave Park |
20 |
17 |
Andrew Trimble(T) Tommy Bowe(T) David Humphreys(2C/2P) |
Jerry Flannery(T) David Wallace(T) Ronan O'Gara(2C/D) |
Fri 3 Mar 06 |
Ravenhill |
27 |
3 |
Tommy Bowe(T) Roger Wilson(T) Paul Steinmetz(T) Justin Harrison(T) Neil McMillan(T) David Humphreys(C) |
Paul Burke(P) |
Sat 30 Sep 06 |
Musgrave Park |
13 |
21 |
Paul Steinmetz(T) David Humphreys(C/2P) |
David Wallace(T) Anthony Horgan(T) Ronan O'Gara(C/3P) |
Fri 23 Mar 07 |
Ravenhill |
21 |
24 |
David Humphreys(3C) Paul Steinmetz(T) Andrew Trimble(T) Roger Wilson(T) |
Brian Carney(T) Eoghan Hickey(C/P) Trevor Halstead(T) Jeremy Manning(2C) John O'Sullivan(T) |
Ulster's only victory in their last dozen encounters in all competitions was 30-13 at Connacht in the Magners League on 23 November.
Munster have won five of their last six matches, and have also won five of their last six against fellow Irish provinces.
In the four previous seasons that the league has been contested on a home and away basis, Munster has achieved a season's double over Ulster twice, and Ulster have done the same to Munster twice!
Saturday 5 January
LEINSTER v OSPREYS
At RDS, Dublin 7.30pm. Live on Setanta Sports , S4C
Referee: Peter Allan (SRU). Touch Judges: Colin Stanley (IRFU), Ger English (IRFU).
TMO: Brian MacNeice (IRFU)
HEAD TO HEAD - PREVIOUS LEAGUE MEETINGS |
|
||||
Date |
Venue |
L |
O |
Leinster scorers |
Ospreys scorers |
Sat 29 Nov 03 |
The Gnoll |
36 |
25 |
Brian O'Driscoll(2T) Gordon D'Arcy(2T) Christian Warner(T) John McWeeney(T) Brian O'Meara(3C) |
Shaun Connor(D) Gavin Henson(C/5P) Huw Bennett(T) |
Fri 30 Apr 04 |
Donnybrook |
16 |
16 |
James Norton(T) Brian O'Meara(C/3P) |
Shane Williams(T) Gavin Henson(C/3P) |
Fri 15 Oct 04 |
St Helen's |
3 |
11 |
David Holwell(P) |
Sonny Parker(T) Gavin Henson(2P) |
Sun 6 Mar 05 |
Donnybrook |
12 |
16 |
Christian Warner(T) Shane Jennings(T) David Holwell(C) |
Jason Spice(T) Shaun Connor(2P) Matt Jones(C/P) |
Sun 4 Sep 05 |
Liberty Stadium |
20 |
22 |
Rob Kearney(T) Felipe Contepomi(5P) |
Andrew Bishop(2T) Barry Williams(T) Matt Jones(2C/P) |
Sat 29 Apr 06 |
Lansdowne Road |
38 |
21 |
Guy Easterby(2T) Felipe Contepomi(T/2C/3P) Jamie Heaslip(T) Niall Ronan(T) |
Jonny Vaughton(T) Gavin Henson(T/C/3P) |
Sat 6 Jan 07 |
Donnybrook |
45 |
22 |
Felipe Contepomi(5C/P) Denis Hickie(T) Brian O'Driscoll(2T) Rob Kearney(2T) Keith Gleeson(T) Jonathan Sexton(C) |
Brent Cockbain(T) Richie Pugh(T) Shaun Connor(2C/P) Stefan Terblanche(T) |
Fri 27 Apr 07 |
Liberty Stadium |
17 |
19 |
Felipe Contepomi(T/2C/P) Shane Horgan(T) |
James Hook(3P) Justin Marshall(T) Shaun Connor(C/P) |
Fri 23 Nov 07 |
Liberty Stadium |
26 |
19 |
Felipe Contepomi(2C/4P) Shane Horgan(T) Rob Kearney(T) |
Shaun Connor(C/3P/D) Gareth Owen(T) |
Top of the table Leinster are unbeaten in their last five matches in the Magners League. Leinster have suffered just one reversal at home since November 2005: 23-52 to the Scarlets at the RDS in the Magners League on 5 October 2007.
Ospreys have not won away from home in the Magners League this season, with their last victory on the road being at Border Reivers last May on the day that they secured the 2006-07 Magners League title. Ospreys have not won in Ireland in the Magners League since a 44-16 victory at Connacht in May 2006.
Leinster have won three of the last four games they have played against Ospreys.