There are two juicy contests down for decision this weekend and thanks to our non-performing sides in Europe, the Pro12 is already the priority for Leinster and Ulster. So, top billing goes to Munster and Connacht as these two unbeaten European sides clash in Thomond Park.

Munster remain unbeaten in the Champions Cup because Stade Français thought better of playing their game in Paris last weekend – a very understandable and sympathetically received request. It means Munster’s only rugby the last fortnight has been against Treviso and this Saturday night they are in a proper match because the westerners are flying.

The World Cup was always going to be to Connacht’s advantage because their squad is not stacked with internationals and therefore Pat Lam and his back-room staff could plan their season and, most importantly, attack the early rounds of the Pro12. By doing so they could steal a march on their opponents and give themselves a decent chance of putting distance between them and seventh spot, the last qualifying place for the Champions Cup next year.

Heading to the end of November, there is a 10-point gap between Connacht and seventh-place Edinburgh and Pat Lam’s side have only lost one game this season. As plans go, this one is coming together nicely.

Connacht have been here before. They have had excellent starts to some seasons, taking advantage of the autumn internationals and Heineken Cup focus of the so-called top clubs and pilfering a result here and there. A couple of years back they were a permanent fixture in the top five but fell apart after Christmas and limped out of contention for everything. This season they have a different look to them. And there is so much to play for. There has been a bit of talk this week of Robbie Henshaw joining Leinster in the coming months but I wonder if he could have his head turned by the undoubted appeal of playing top-rank European rugby in Galway. Ultimately the decision will be one for the IRFU contracts committee and they must weight up what’s best for all provinces. Connacht would be hoping that staying in the top seven would make their case for keeping Henshaw a little stronger.

Ironically, the need to restock Leinster (and to some extent Munster) may tell against them and their world-class centre’s location next season. Saturday is a crucial contest for Connacht and I expect them to be in this game to the end.

This is also an ideal opportunity for Munster because they will be tested and they could do with that considering their next European tie is probably a home tie against Leicester.

The much-depleted Munster are already our last realistic shot in the Champions Cup and while they are definitely stuttering, they will always be difficult to beat at home. Anthony Foley needs his team to find a spark over the next two weeks because the back-to-back ties against the English rivals will define their year.

This weekend they’ll probably grind it out against Connacht. That’s the logical result but it wouldn’t hurt the home side to try to be a little bit more expansive at times. The Thomond crowds, despite their European fervour, are beginning to desert in noticeable numbers for Pro12 games – we could do with this one having some fire and quality. Munster to win an intense close affair.

On Friday night, the RDS should be rocking for the visit of old enemy Ulster but the atmosphere will probably be a little muted. Both perennial powerhouses in recent years have had the dreaded word “transitional” attached to them and that’s never good.

For the next few weeks, Leo Cullen’s team selections will tell a tale. We’ve seen it in so many sports: a clamour starts for a coach to pick a player, he withstands that pressure, then things start to go wrong for the coach, and bang, the payer is selected.

The player in this instance is Gary Ringrose and let’s hope all see sense with the 20-year-old. This young man has been anointed in recent weeks as the potential answer to all of Leinster’s problems, but of course he’s not. What he is though, is a very exciting prospect who can potentially be a key player. Still raw in terms of what used to be called first-class rugby, here is a player that has to be minded, pure and simple. Thankfully the IRFU have a track record here.

Leo Cullen’s biggest problems exist at half-back and in the back row where Eoin Reddan, Johnny Sexton and Jamie Heaslip are all struggling for form. When your leaders aren’t making it happen, the malaise spreads. In big games, Leinster look very beatable right now.

Ulster have begun life under the highly rated Les Kiss and what he wouldn’t give for the squad of two/three years ago because Ulster are creaking. They look competitive, but like Munster and Leinster at the moment, are a little short of top class.

Injuries have hurt them but so too has their lack of high-class recruitment. Their best signing of recent times, Ruan Pienaar, is going on 32 and too often stationed at scrum-half when Ulster could really do with him at 10. While that mightn’t fit the IRFU narrative in regard to managing Paddy Jackson, it doesn’t fit Ulster either. If they have a 10 like Pienaar, then on the big days he must be out-half or perhaps moved on.

Ulster probably have enough for this misfiring Leinster side. Rory Best, Chris Henry, Darren Cave, the aforementioned Pienaar, Dan Tuohy and Robbie Diack wouldn’t have been pleased losing at home to Saracens 27-9 last Friday night. A win in Dublin would bring a smile to supporters.

Any weekend that saw Leinster and Munster at home in the Pro12 used to mean home double was a banker. Not any more. Both are vulnerable, at least one will be beaten.