Preview: Pro12 semifinals
Three Irish provinces and a Scottish team will be contesting the Pro12 semifinals this season, as Glasgow Warriors host Munster on Friday at Scotstoun.
Current champions Leinster, in a repeat of last year's final, face Ulster at the RDS the following day.
All four teams have reached this stage of the competition before, but only Leinster have appeared in every play-off since their inception as the way of deciding the Pro12 champions.
It will be especially difficult for Munster and Ulster as no away side has ever won a play-off game.
Of the four contenders only Ulster have dropped lower than the top five throughout the season.
Top seeds Leinster took over pole position after round 16 and have not relinquished it since.
Glasgow have won the most number of games throughout the regular season whilst Ulster equal the record along with Connacht, for picking up the least disciplinary points.
The winners of the two play-offs will go forward to contest the The Pro12 Final which is scheduled for Saturday, May 31.
We take a closer look at both semifinals:
Friday, May 16
Glasgow Warriors v Munster
(Scotstoun Stadium – Kick-off: 19.35; 18.35 GMT)
The Warriors have reached the play-offs for the third successive season, in fact there have only been five seasons of play-offs and Warriors have been in them four times, but this will be their first home tie.
In that time an away side has never won a play-off game.
The Warriors have won their last eight Pro12 matches, their best ever sequence in the history of the tournament, and at home they have won their last seven contests at Scotstoun since Toulon beat them there in the European Cup on January 18.
Glasgow have been defeated in all five semifinal matches they have played in all competitions however, but Townsend believes his side can end that unbeaten run.
"Tomorrow night we will be doing all we can to make our first ever final," he said.
"To be going into the play-offs by setting a new club record of eight wins in succession is very pleasing and we have built up some great momentum over the past couple of months.
"Munster challenge you in a number of areas and will come here with the experience of being involved in these big occasions. They also beat us here in October so we're well aware of the task we face tomorrow night.
"For the first time in the play-offs we are playing at home and it looks like we'll have a capacity crowd at Scotstoun. Every player selected is determined to put in a performance to make our supporters proud."
Munster have also reached the play-offs in four of the last five years, but their only victory in those contests was when they beat Ospreys 18-11 at Thomond Park in 2011.
The Munstermen have won just two of their last five Pro12 fixtures but one of those was in Scotland, against Edinburgh at Meggetland.
"Glasgow Warriors have probably been the best team in the league in the last couple of months and they will be a really difficult proposition at home," said Head coach Rob Penney.
"So hopefully we will be as good as we can and give them a good contest.
"It's not going to be easy, we're going to have to be excited about the contest and be up emotionally and be tactically astute in all areas, both offensively and defensively.
"If we can get that emotional connection with the game and with the event, and be smart about what we do we'll be in the hunt but if we're not we'll have a tough day at the office."
Recent results:
2014: Glasgow Warriors won 22-5, Thomond Park
2013: Munster won 13-6, Scotstoun
2013: Glasgow Warriors 51-24, Scotstoun
Prediction: Muster are a championship team but as the history books state, it will be a monumental task for them to win away from home against Glasgow who finished the regular season strong. The home advantage must play a big factor in helping Glasgow Warriors edge it by less than seven.
Teams:
Glasgow Warriors: 15 Peter Murchie, 14 Sean Maitland, 13 Mark Bennett, 12 Alex Dunbar, 11 Tommy Seymour, 10 Finn Russell, 9 Chris Cusiter, 8 Josh Strauss, 7 Chris Fusaro, 6 Rob Harley, 5 Jonny Gray, 4 Al Kellock (captain), 3 Jon Welsh, 2 Dougie Hall, 1 Ryan Grant.
Replacements: 16 Pat MacArthur, 17 Gordon Reid, 18 Geoff Cross, 19 Tim Swinson, 20 Leone Nakarawa, 21 Niko Matawalu, 22 Ruaridh Jackson, 23 Sean Lamont.
Munster: 15 Felix Jones, 14 Keith Earls, 13 Casey Laulala, 12 James Downey, 11 Simon Zebo, 10 Ian Keatley, 9 Conor Murray, 8 James Coughlan, 7 Sean Dougall, 6 CJ Stander, 5 Paul O'Connell, 4 Dave Foley, 3 BJ Botha, 2 Damien Varley (captain), 1 Dave Kilcoyne.
Replacements: 16 Quentin MacDonald, 17 James Cronin, 18 John Ryan, 19 Donncha O'Callaghan, 20 Paddy Butler, 21 Duncan Williams, 22 JJ Hanrahan, 23 Andrew Conway.
Referee: Marius Mitrea
Assistant referees: Giuseppe Vivarini, Stefano Penne
TMO: Carlo Damasco
Saturday, May 17
Leinster v Ulster
(Royal Dublin Society – Kick-off: 19.00; 18.00 GMT)
The Leinstermen's solitary defeat in their last 12 Pro12 matches came on a visit to Ospreys in round 19.
Leinster were the only side to remain undefeated at home in the competition this season, their last Pro12 defeat at the RDS coming at the hands of Ulster on 30th March 2013.
Ulster have reached the play-offs in three of the last four seasons, but their only victory came last season at home to the Scarlets.
The Ulstermen have won just two of their last five Pro12 encounters and have beaten a fellow Irish province on their own soil in four of the last five regular season matches they have played.
Leinster have won their last three matches against Ulster including last year's final played at the RDS. They were also victorious over Ulster in the knock-out stage in 2011 at the RDS.
Ulster's only previous victory at the RDS in nine visits came in March 2013.
Saturday's clash – a repeat of last year's Pro12 final – may be an imposing prospect for Muller and co but the South African World Cup winner believes table-topping Leinster are beatable.
"We had a great result with a couple of young boys going down to Munster, which was absolutely outstanding," said the captain.
"There were a lot of positives and it is good to have a week's break to get the body into some sort of shape for the semifinals.
"We truly believe we are a good enough side to make it through the semifinals but it is going to take something really special to beat a great side like Leinster.
"Playing against a really tough side like Leinster is a great challenge but we are really excited for that prospect."
If Ulster are to make the final, they must become the first team to beat Leinster at the RDS in this year's Pro12.
But Muller, who is set to retire at the end of the season, knows anything can happen when it comes to knockout rugby.
"We have only beaten them once there in, I think, 14 years so you can just imagine who are the favourites for that game, but rugby is a funny old game and sometimes funny things can happen," he added.
"We just want to go down there full of confidence and have a really good crack at them. With a bounce of the ball and one or two calls going your way, anything is possible.
"We have not been perfect in the last couple of weeks from a fair play point of view and a cards point of view but we are obviously delighted to be in the semifinals."
Recent results:
2014: Leinster won 22-20, Ravenhill Stadium
2013: Leinster won 19-6, RSDS
2013: Leinster won 24-18, Ravenhill Stadium
Prediction: Leinster have been awesome throughout the tournament, their last loss came some 12 games ago. They have finished at the top of the table quite comfortably and you have to picture them heading to the Final with a victory of more than 10 points.
Teams:
Referee: Leighton Hodges
Assistant Referees: Ian Davies, Neil Paterson
TMO: Gareth Simmonds
