Friday night in the Guinness PRO14 is all about Conference A where first plays second.

Unbeaten Leinster, the defending champions and runaway leaders this time around, face their sternest test yet against Dan McFarland’s Ulster.

Ulster are impressing domestically and in Europe this season, and came within a whisker of beating Leo Cullen’s men at the Aviva back in April in the Champions Cup quarter-finals.

But the bare facts are not encouraging for an upset, Leinster have not lost to Ulster or indeed any Irish province at the RDS since 2013.

They have scored the most tries this season after seven rounds, conceded the fewest and come into the clash on an 11-match winning run.

We are back at the RDS Arena this Friday night for a massive #GuinnessPRO14 interprovincial derby clash with Ulster! ✊🔵🗣

Get tickets. 👇#LEIvULS #JoinTheRoar

— Leinster Rugby (@leinsterrugby) December 16, 2019

Last season at the RDS it was entirely one-way traffic, Sean Cronin crossing for a first-half double as Leinster wrapped up a bonus point before the break and ended up 40-7 victors.

Make no mistake about it, Ulster are up against it. But expect fireworks to fly as two in-form sides go head to head.

Kick-off: The RDS | KO 19:35 (UK), Friday 20 December

How to watch: | Live on eir Sport 1, Premier Sports 1, SuperSport 1, DAZN, pro14.tv

Referee: George Clancy (IRFU, 120th Championship Appearance)

AR1: Frank Murphy (IRFU),AR2: Kieran Barry (IRFU),

TMO: Simon McDowell (IRFU)

Leinster Rugby: Rob Kearney, Fergus McFadden, Tommy O’Brien, Robbie Henshaw, Cian Kelleher, Harry Byrne, Jamison Gibson-Park, Peter Dooley, Seán Cronin, Andrew Porter, Scott Fardy, Josh Murphy, Will Connors, Scott Penny, Max Deegan

Replacements: Bryan Byrne, Cian Healy, Jack Aungier, Oisín Dowling, Josh van der Flier, Hugh O’Sullivan, Ciarán Frawley, Conor O’Brien

Ulster Rugby: Rob Lyttle, Craig Gilroy, Matt Faddes, Angus Curtis, Angus Kernohan, Bill Johnston, David Shanahan; Andrew Warwick, Adam McBurney, Tom O’Toole, David O’Connor, Alan O’Connor, Matthew Rea, Nick Timoney, Greg Jones

Replacements: John Andrew, Kyle McCall, Ross Kane, Jack Regan, Azur Allison, Jonny Stewart, Stewart Moore, Ethan McIlroy