This weekend’s round of RaboDirect PRO12 kicks off on Thursday night, when Benetton Treviso are the visitors to Parc y Scarlets. They may be only one place apart in the table, but Treviso are seven points behind Scarlets; the home side will need to continue their good vein of form if they want to make it to the play-offs.
The three games on Friday night kick off on the green isle, with games at Connacht, Munster and Ulster all playing host.
Victory for Connacht could see them leapfrog their opponents Edinburgh Rugby in the table, while the other two games bring the battle for the top four places into sharp focus.
Of note is that, if selected, Connacht’s Michael Swift will equal Deiniol Jones record for the most number of games played in the competition (139).
Munster and Glasgow Warriors have traded third and fourth places for four weeks running, just two points now separate them in the table, though the Irish Province have a game in hand.
Munster’s opponents this week, Cardiff Blues, are just outside the play-off zone, but victory, should other results go their way, could bring a coveted top four spot for the Blues.
The top two teams have stayed the same since Round 10, and while Leinster are now 10 points clear of the chasing pack, the prospect of a home play-off means that second placed Ospreys will be looking to consolidate their position, however, a trip to Ravenhill on a Friday night, with Ulster themselves aiming for a top four finish, is not an easy place to go in search of points.
Saturday's only game could well be a taster of the play-offs when Leinster face Glasgow Warriors, albeit this time in Scotland.
The round wraps up in Italy on Sunday when Dragons travel to the Stadio Zaffanella to face Aironi. The Italian outfit are on a roll, having won their last two home games, and will be keen to add a Welsh Region to that tally.
