It will also be the first time the sides have met since that Celtic League final in December when Leinster came from behind to pip their great rivals in a cracking Lansdowne Road final.
On that occasion Munster were understrength while Leinster ended with fourteen players on the pitch following Eric Miller's dismissal. This time around Leinster are without several of their leading lights while Munster are near enough at full strength, Peter Clohessy the obvious absentee.
Leinster. G. D'Arcy, J. McWeeney, B. O'Driscoll, D. Quinlan, P. McKenna, N. Spooner, B. O'Meara, R. Corrigan (captain), S. Byrne, P. Wallace, B. Casey, M. O'Kelly, A. McCullen, E. Miller, K. Gleeson. Replacements. P. Smyth, P. Coyle, L. Cullen, L. Toland, B. Willis, S. Keogh, J. Norton.
Connacht. M. McHugh, T. Robinson, P. Duignan, T. Allnutt, W. Munn, E. Elwood, E. Reddan, D. McFarland (captain), M. Uijs, P. Bracken, D. Brown, R. Frost, C. Rigney, D. Dillon, J. O'Connor. Replacements. R. McCormack, J. Flannery, M. Swift, P. Neville, J. Ferris, C. Keane, M. McPhail.
Ulster: B Cunningham, J Topping, R Constable, A Larkin, T Howe, P Wallace, N Doak, J Fitzpatrick, N Brady, S Best, P Johns, A Kearney, T McWhirter, A Ward (Captain), W Brosnihan. Replacements: B Young, R Weir, M McCullough, A Hughes, K Campbell, S Coulter, J Cunningham.