**Munster will aim to follow Leinster and Ulster’s lead in making it seven wins from seven in the Guinness PRO14 when they host Zebre on Monday night.** Johann van Graan’s men are currently enjoying their best start to a campaign since 2008 as they bid to maintain their stranglehold over Conference B. Michael Bradley’s side, meanwhile, find themselves bottom of Conference A with five points and one win to their name so far. # What’s at stake? The Irish heavy-hitters have enjoyed the 2020/21 season thus far and Munster, still unbeaten at home in all competitions in 2020, are looking to maintain this fact. With an 11-point lead at the summit of Conference B the Irish province will want to secure a spot in the Finals Series as early as possible and their record against Italian sides means all signs point to a Munster win here. The Munstermen have won their last 24 fixtures against Italian opponents in all competitions, a formidable run indeed. By contrast Zebre have won just the once this season, when they impressively beat Ospreys in Round 4 and almost followed it up with victory over Scarlets too. Defeats to Connacht and Ulster have since followed but there has been encouragement in the strength of their performances if not results this season and victory here could move them as high as fourth in Conference A. # What happened last time they met? Last time these two sides met was in February and Munster managed to shutout their Italian opponents in a 28-0 win. Zebre winger Pierre Bruno was sent off inside the first ten minutes and Munster instantly dotted down through Calvin Nash. However, Zebre defended solidly to only trail by seven points at half-time. Three second-half scores gave Munster the bonus-point win though as JJ Hanrahan, Rory Scannell and Darren Sweetnam all crossed the whitewash.
