**Among the joy and cheer spread at Christmas time, the festive period also promises a feast of thrills and spills throughout a mouth-watering line-up of Guinness PRO14 derby fixtures.** This year is no different, and plenty of attention will be focused on the Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi as Zebre host compatriots Benetton in Round 9, the first of a scintillating double-header between the Italian pair. Besides national pride, there is already plenty riding on the fixture with Zebre’s November victory over Ospreys being the only Championship win mustered between the sides in what has been a tricky campaign so far for both teams. And Championship fans all over will be hoping the significance of the match can help yield an affair as thrilling as their December 28th battle last season, which is the latest entry in our 12 Days of Derbies countdown. Having reigned supreme 13-8 away from home a week earlier, Benetton overcame a number of hurdles to deliver a compelling six-try win over their Parma-based rivals and see out the year in style.
