Keith Earls in action against Leinster at the Aviva last season.

Munster travel to the Aviva Stadium on Saturday evening to take on reigning champions Leinster in the Guinness PRO14 (6pm, live on eir Sport and Premier Sports).

Munster travel to the Aviva Stadium on Saturday evening to take on reigning champions Leinster in the Guinness PRO14 (6pm, live on eir Sport and Premier Sports).

Both sides go into the game on the back of Interpro wins last weekend. Munster secured a record 64-7 win over Ulster with Leinster earning a 20-3 victory away to Connacht at the Sportsground.

Winning Run At The Aviva

A huge task awaits Munster as Leinster have picked up from where they left off last season. Leo Cullen’s side top Conference B with four wins from five and have a formidable record at the Aviva Stadium, winning their last nine matches at the venue since Toulon beat them there in December 2015.

Speaking ahead of the clash, Munster Head Coach Johann van Graan said: “You have to think outside the box against them [Leinster].

“Let’s call their defence the secret of their team. They don’t really commit a lot of guys to the breakdown. They are very comfortable to defend 10, 20, or 30 phases and once they get that turnover, they punish you.

“A lot of teams have come trying different things against them: some guys try to keep the ball in hand; some go to the air; some went with a breakdown focus and some went in with a variety of stuff.

“The important thing for us is that we play our game.”

Team Line-Ups

Munster: Andrew Conway; Darren Sweetnam, Sammy Arnold, Dan Goggin, Keith Earls; Joey Carbery, Alby Mathewson; Dave Kilcoyne, Niall Scannell, Stephen Archer; Jean Kleyn, Tadhg Beirne; Peter O’Mahony (C), Tommy O’Donnell, CJ Stander.

Replacements: Kevin O’Byrne, James Cronin, Ciaran Parker, Billy Holland, Chris Cloete, Duncan Williams, JJ Hanrahan, Rory Scannell.

See full details of the Munster team here.

Leinster: Rob Kearney, Fergus McFadden, Rory O’Loughlin, Robbie Henshaw, James Lowe, Ross Byrne, Jamison Gibson-Park, Jack McGrath, James Tracy, Michael Bent, Devin Toner, James Ryan, Rhys Ruddock, Dan Leavy, Seán O’Brien.

Replacements: Seán Cronin, Cian Healy, Andrew Porter, Mick Kearney, Josh van der Flier, Luke McGrath, Noel Reid, Dave Kearney

Overall Guinness PRO14 head to head record

Played 34, Leinster won 21, Munster won 13.

Did you know?

Leinster’s only defeat in their last seven Guinness PRO14 matches was a 23-21 loss at Scarlets last month.

The Leinstermen have won their last nine matches at Aviva Stadium in all tournaments since Toulon beat them there in December 2015.

Leinster’s only loss in their last eight fixtures against fellow Irish provinces was to Connacht in Galway in April.

Munster’s last seven matches have all gone the way of the home side on the day whilst their only victory at the Aviva Stadium in their last 11 visits against all opponents in all tournaments was a 34-23 win over Leinster in the PRO14 in October 2014.

Match Officials

Referee: Ben Whitehouse (49th competition game)

Assistant Referees: Dan Jones, Mike English (both WRU)

TMO: Jon Mason (WRU)

Next Home Game

Heineken Champions Cup rugby returns to Thomond Park in less than three weeks as Gloucester visit Limerick.

Saturday, October 20

Munster v Gloucester, Thomond Park, 1pm; Buy tickets here