Ulster v Benetton

After an entertaining 43-36 victory out in South Africa against the Southern Kings, Ulster return home to the Kingspan to face Italian side Benetton as they look to keep pace with the Scarlets at the top of Conference B. Visitors Benetton sit in mid-table in Conference B and will be looking to halt a slide that has seen them lose their last two Pro14 matches. With Ulster having won the reverse fixture in Italy back in September, Les Kiss’ men will be confident of repeating that feat at the Kingspan this weekend but with both sides stripped of key players due to internationals, squad depth will be tested. Ulster by 12

Cheetahs v Edinburgh

Having suffered their first defeat on home soil to table-toppers Glasgow recently, the Cheetahs will look to get back to winning ways in South Africa against Richard Cockerill’s Edinburgh side. Coming into this fixture off the back of three successive wins, the Scottish side are building momentum and sit fourth in Conference B, in comparison to their hosts who sit third in Conference A with four wins and four losses from their eight matches this season. Both sharing similar records this campaign, the first ever meeting between these two should be an intriguing contest but despite Edinburgh’s resurgent form a Cheetahs attack that has already racked up 29 tries in the Pro14 may be too hard to stop. Cheetahs by 10

Cardiff Blues v Connacht

Two sides with identical records in Conference A, just one point separates Connacht in fourth from the Blues in fifth ahead of their second meeting of the season. After losing their first three Pro14 matches of the season, it was in Galway where Danny Wilson’s Cardiff side finally got off the mark with a 17-15 win in round four. Since that match in Ireland, both sides have won two and lost two and approach this match having won their last Pro14 matches. Kieran Keane seems to be slowly finding his feet as Connacht coach after a rocky start and his team will travel to Cardiff in high spirits as they go in pursuit of a third successive win but having yet to win on the road this season and with the Blues able to call on the experience of Gethin Jenkins and the guile of Gareth Anscombe, the hosts should nick this one. Blues by 6

Leinster v Dragons

Having lost ground to both the Scarlets and Ulster in Conference A with a defeat in Glasgow last time out, Leo Cullen’s Leinster will be smarting as they go up against the Dragons and former player Bernard Jackman. Sitting third seven points off leaders Scarlets, the Dublin-based outfit cannot afford too many more slip-ups and despite the absence of a number of players on international duty will expect to return to winning ways against the side they beat on the opening day in Newport. With Wales international Rhodri Williams signed up and Lions flanker Ross Moriarty heavily linked with the region, Dragons coach Bernard Jackman may be busy with recruitment for next season but without a win on their travels and after losing three successive games his side must focus their attention on the challenge awaiting at the RDS. Dragons were poor on their last trip to Ireland going down 49-6 to Munster and with key players like Elliot Dee, Hallam Amos and Cory Hill missing, it may be a case of damage limitation against a strong Leinster squad. Leinster by 19

Ospreys V Glasgow

Bottom meets top in Conference A as last season’s play-off semi-finalists come up against the team boasting a 100% record this season. Dave Rennie’s Glasgow are streaking clear at the top, 12 points clear of second-placed Munster and look well-placed to secure a home semi-final even at this early stage of the season. In contrast the Ospreys have endured a disastrous start with just two wins from eight games leaving their play-off hopes in tatters. A much-needed win over the Dragons in their last home game ended a five-game losing streak for Steve Tandy’s side but that was followed by a heavy defeat in Edinburgh a week later. The Ospreys will be out for revenge following a 31-10 defeat at Glasgow’s Scotstoun stadium in round two and with Glasgow missing a large contingent of their squad through internationals this may be a good time to face the Conference leaders, although with the canny Rennie in charge the visitors should have enough to sneak it. Glasgow by 4

Zebre v Munster

Italian outfit Zebre have made some strides this season and despite sitting second from bottom in Conference A with two wins from eight matches they are no longer the walkovers of the past especially at home. Munster sit well-placed in second in the conference even if they are 12 points behind early season pace-setters Glasgow and will be looking to build upon a commanding victory over the Dragons last time out. Zebre have already secured one notable scalp at home this season having overcome Ulster in round five but have lost their last three, and whilst it might be something of a slog early on for the visitors without their internationals they should have enough class to see off their hosts. Munster by 9

Southern Kings v Scarlets

A first trip to South Africa for last season’s Pro12 champions, the Scarlets will travel to Port Elizabeth as heavy favourites against a Kings side who have lost all eight games this season. Despite the Kings’ woeful record there have been signs of improvement with the South African side having led at half-time against Ulster in their last match before securing a try bonus-point in a 43-36 defeat. The Scarlets are without many due to the internationals and with an injury crisis at scrum-half have even called former Wales and Lions No.9 Mike Phillips out of retirement for their mini-tour of South Africa. Even with squad resources stretched however the Conference B leaders will still pose an ominous threat to the Kings and it seems unlikely that they will get off the mark this weekend. Scarlets by 12

By Jonathan Davies