Both top of their European Champions Cup pools and coming back to Guinness PRO14 action fresh from victories over Premiership sides – which of these two Irish giants will come out on top on the 26th?

Leinster beat the English champions Exeter last time out while Munster won away at Leicester, meaning neither team will be short of confidence at Thomond Park.

What’s at stake? There is always more than Guinness PRO14 points on the line when these two meet, and this encounter is no different.

Glasgow slipping up against Edinburgh gives Munster the chance to close the gap on the Conference A leaders, while Leinster could leapfrog Scarlets in Conference B should they win and their Welsh rivals fail to.

Team news (Munster): Johann van Graan makes four changes to his last XV as Rhys Marshall and Andrew Conway return to the starting lineup.

Keith Earls and Tommy O’Donnell also make their first starts since Round 7 as the former replaces Alex Wootton and Conway comes in at full-back, with Simon Zebo moving to the bench.

Team news (Leinster): Leo Cullen makes a host of changes to his side for this inter-pro encounter, with academy product Jordan Larmour making his first senior start, at full-back.

Cullen’s lineup also includes a first time wearing the captain’s armband for prop Jack McGrath as Barry Daly returns from an ankle injury to play on the wing.

Talking points: Munster’s CJ Stander on signing his new contract ahead of the Leinster clash, said: “The Munster and Ireland fans have been fantastic to us since we arrived and my continued focus will be to do my best for them and both teams when called upon.

“My intention was always to stay with Munster and Ireland throughout this process having settled well in Limerick with my wife and within the Munster family.”

Leinster’s Australian flanker Scott Fardy said: “It’s a good day, apparently. The boys have said it’s a good, fun trip down there.

“Obviously very different to what I’m usually doing at Christmas. I’m usually having a few beers and some nice prawns in the sun down at the beach. It’s my first wintery Christmas here in Ireland.”

Key battle: CJ Stander goes into the game fresh from signing a new contract to stay at Munster until 2021, and he goes up against Jack Conan in the Leinster pack.

With Leo Cullen leaving forwards such as Tadhg Furlong, Josh van der Flier and Richardt Strauss on the bench, will Stander be able to exert enough authority over Conan to make the result certain before Leinster make changes?

Key stat: Peter O’Mahony will become the 12th member of the current Munster squad to reach 100 caps in the inter-pro encounter.

Did you know? Munster have brought in extra seating to lift the capacity of Thomond Park to 26,267 for the sell-out St Stephen’s Day clash.

Munster: A Conway, D Sweetnam, S Arnold, R Scannell, K Earls, I Keatley, C Murray, D Kilcoyne, R Marshall, S Archer, J Kleyn, B Holland, P O’Mahony, T O’Donnell, CJ Stander

Replacements: N Scannell, J Cronin, J Ryan, D O’Shea, J O’Donoghue, D Williams, JJ Hanrahan, S Zebo

Leinster: J Larmour, B Daly, R O’Loughlin, R Henshaw, J Lowe, R Byrne, J Gibson-Park, J McGrath, J Tracy, M Bent, D Toner, J Ryan, J Murphy, D Leavy, J Conan

Replacements: R Strauss, E Byrne, T Furlong, M Kearney, J van der Flier, N McCarthy, C Marsh, N Reid

Match officials – referee: Nigel Owens

AR1: Sean Gallagher

AR2: Stuart Gaffikin

TMO: Simon McDowell

TV: Sky Sports Action 3pm/TG4 2.45pm

Guinness PRO14 Final 2018 Ticket Information: Fans can save up to 20% on selected tickets, and prices start at just €30 for adults and €5 for children, and can be booked via www.ticketmaster.ie