It’s the penultimate full round of United Rugby Championship fixtures this weekend, with the battle firmly on for play-off places in both Europe and South Africa.
Second hosts first in the clash of the round between the Stormers and Leinster on Saturday, while the Bulls, Sharks and Lions all play their final regular season matches on home soil.
Just four points separate second and eighth place in the URC standings, with it all to play for leading into the final on 18 June.
Bulls vs Glasgow Warriors
The Bulls can stake their claim for a play-off place in the United Rugby Championship on Friday night, as they host Glasgow Warriors at Loftus Versfeld.
So congested is the field that the home side would go above their visitors with victory in Pretoria.
They were winners last weekend over Benetton, while the Scottish side faded to defeat in Cape Town against the impressive Stormers.
Friday 29 April, kick off 19:00 SAST.
Munster vs Cardiff
Munster’s mission to secure a home berth in the United Rugby Championship play-offs continues when they host Cardiff on Friday.
The Irish side are third in the URC standings but level on points with the Sharks and Ulster immediately below them.
Their visitors have won just five times in the competition’s maiden season so far.
Friday 29 April, kick off 20:35 SAST.
Lions vs Benetton
The Lions wrap up their home duties in the United Rugby Championship on Saturday afternoon when they welcome Benetton to Ellis Park.
South Africa’s lowest-placed side are long-since out of the race for the URC play-offs but could realistically finish as high as tenth if they can end their campaign on a high.
Their Italian visitors arrive in Johannesburg trailing their hosts by eight points, albeit with a game in hand.
Saturday 30 April, kick off 14:00 SAST.
Zebre vs Dragons
A United Rugby Championship basement battle pits Zebre against the Dragons on Saturday.
The pair come into the tie desperate to inject some respectability into the dying embers of their respective seasons, with both being way off the pace of the rest.
Bottom place belongs firmly to the hosts, who have lost all 14 of their fixtures so far, with the away side having won just twice.
Saturday 30 April, kick off 16:05 SAST.
Sharks vs Connacht
The Sharks set out to solidify their top four credentials in the United Rugby Championship when they host Connacht in Durban on Saturday.
A dramatic win over Leinster last weekend put the Durban side fourth in the URC standings, sandwiched between Munster and Ulster with all three locked on 51 points.
Their Irish visitors picked up a similarly nervy victory in Johannesburg over the Lions last time out.
Saturday 30 April, kick off 16:05 SAST.
Stormers vs Leinster
It’s the game of the weekend in the United Rugby Championship, as the second-placed Stormers host leaders Leinster in Cape Town on Saturday evening.
The Irish side’s narrow defeat at the Sharks last week tees up an intriguing contest, with the hosts holding a one-point gape above the chasing pack coming into their penultimate assignment.
Glasgow Warriors were the victims a week ago in the shadow of Table Mountain, going down 32-7.
Saturday 30 April, kick off 18:15 SAST.
Ospreys vs Llanelli Scarlets
A Welsh derby in the United Rugby Championship sees Ospreys play host to Llanelli Scarlets in Swansea on Saturday.
The visitors would need something of a miracle to reach the play-offs, while the home side are mooching around in 11th place as the end of a disrupted first URC campaign draws near.
They do at least hold a game in hand thanks to the fixture mayhem of earlier in the season.
Saturday 30 April, kick off 18:15 SAST.
Edinburgh vs Ulster
It’s all to play for in the United Rugby Championship on Saturday night, as play-off positions are at stake for Edinburgh and Ulster.
A Scottish capital city showdown is the order of the day with just two points and two places separating the sides, with Glasgow acting as the sixth-placed buffer between them.
Both endured awkward returns from a bruising tour of South Africa last weekend, the home side squeezing past bottom club Zebre while the Ulstermen were edged out in their Irish derby at home to Munster.
Saturday 30 April, kick off 20:35 SAST.
Predictions
Chance of winning (%) | Points margin | |
Bulls | 88,7 | 9 |
Glasgow | 10,9 | |
Chance of winning (%) | Points margin | |
Munster | 87,2 | 20 |
Cardiff | 12,2 | |
Chance of winning (%) | Points margin | |
Lions | 51,9 | 6 |
Benetton | 42,1 | |
Chance of winning (%) | Points margin | |
Zebre | 38,8 | |
Dragons | 60,5 | 1 |
Chance of winning (%) | Points margin | |
Sharks | 89,5 | 17 |
Connacht | 10,1 | |
Chance of winning (%) | Points margin | |
Stormers | 20 | |
Leinster | 76,8 | 1 |
Chance of winning (%) | Points margin | |
Ospreys | 39,5 | |
Llanelli Scarlets | 55,4 | 1 |
Chance of winning (%) | Points margin | |
Edinburgh | 34 | |
Ulster | 60,4 | 1 |