Celtic League/Munster v Cardiff: The coronation of the European champions takes place at Thomond Park this evening but the game also acts as a farewell party for two long-serving imports and two native Munstermen, who swap red for blue next season. The minor matter of third spot in the Celtic League is also on the line.
The tournament organisers made a smart move this week to ensure this was the only Saturday game so the Munster factor didn't disrupt the title race.
But forget about a repeat environment to what the poor Sale Sharks experienced in January as both teams have already achieved their annual goals. Cardiff have qualified for Europe as the top Welsh seeds and Munster - in a scenario similar to Liverpool FC last season - must be content as third Irish seeds. They are being punished, somewhat absurdly, for channelling their energies into finally winning the Heineken Cup as it meant they fell off the Celtic League pace in recent weeks.
Win, lose or draw 13,200 Munster fans - an extra few might sneak in - will not budge come the full-time whistle as the "holy grail" will be on display from the main stand. A lap of honour was initially suggested but fear that the whole of Limerick might join in scuttled that notion.
The Munster core will be sitting amongst the people. Anthony Foley, Donncha O'Callaghan, Paul O'Connell, Ronan O'Gara and Peter Stringer have rightly been put on ice ahead of the June 10th first Test against New Zealand in Hamilton.
Of the other tourists Marcus Horan needs a run-out and Denis Leamy gets an overdue game in his international position between David Wallace and Alan Quinlan, who is 80 minutes away from being a late call-up to tour.
Another linchpin of Irish rugby, John Hayes is named on the bench but is carrying a number of niggles. If he doesn't make it, Eugene McGovern will deputise.
The game acts as a send-off to Rob Henderson, Paul Burke, Mike Prendergast and Mike Mullins, along with the Leinster-bound Trevor Hogan and Stephen Keogh. Mullins is not in the match 22 so he will be presented with a memento at half-time for service to the cause.
Mullins returns to New Zealand; Burke joins the Leicester Tigers, while, at 33, Henderson seems to be looking at retirement, though we are told to watch this space. A decision on the injury-prone Christian Cullen has yet to be made.
Director of rugby David Young has made five changes to the Cardiff side that beat Leinster two weeks back, with the former All Black number eight Xavier Rush a notable absentee. Rhys Williams, however, does return to the right wing and the captaincy.
If the festivities of the past week haven't left too big a hangover, Munster should have enough in the tank to give their supporters one more victory.
After all, this is Thomond Park.
MUNSTER: S Payne; A Horgan, J Kelly, R Henderson, I Dowling; J Manning, T O'Leary; M Horan, D Fogarty, F Pucciariello; T Hogan, M O'Driscoll; A Quinlan, D Wallace, D Leamy. Replacements: J Flannery, J Hayes/E McGovern, S Keogh, J O'Sullivan, M Prendergast, P Burke, T Halstead.
CARDIFF BLUES: N MacLeod; R Williams (capt), J Robinson, M Stcherbina, C Czekaj; D Flanagan, M Phillips; J Yapp, D Goodfield, B Evans; D Jones, R Sidoli; M Molitika, R Sowden-Taylor, M Lewis. Replacements: R Gill, R Thomas, B Davies, M Williams, N Robinson, T Riley, C Morgan.
Referee: Andy MacPherson (SRU).
Leading points scorers: Munster - Ronan O'Gara 80; Cardiff - Nick Robinson 158.
Leading try scorers: Munster: A Horgan, J Kelly, F Pucciariello four. Cardiff: C Czekaj six.
Verdict: Munster.
Connacht finished their season with a flourish at the Sportsground last night, beating Glasgow 32-7 and scoring five tries to boot.
When one could have expected the home side to sign off with a whimper, they delivered their most productive display, grabbing their first bonus point of the season for scoring four tries.
With this basement battle victory, Connacht lifted themselves from the bottom of the table. Their five-points brought them level with Glasgow, and with one more game won - six in 20 - Connacht leapfrogged the Scottish side and deprived them of European Cup rugby next season.
Matt Lacey, John Fogarty, Chris Keane, David Gannon and David Slemen crossed for the Connacht tries.
