The Guinness PRO14 breaks new ground on Saturday, quite literally, as the Southern Kings play host to Leinster in the first game on South African soil. The game at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium kicks off at 2.15pm local time, which is 1.15pm BST.

What’s at stake? The Southern Kings have been on the wrong end of a couple of tough losses so far in the Guinness PRO14, but they will be keen to change that for their first home game of the campaign. Leinster, for their part, have picked up a maximum ten points from ten and will be keen to extend their perfect record.

Team news (Southern Kings): The Kings have made three changes to the team that faced Connacht last week, with Rudi van Rooyen coming in at scrum-half. Up front Luvuyo Pupuma is included at tighthead prop while the final change sees Stephan Greeff comes into the second row.

Team news (Leinster): Leinster have made a host of changes to the team that beat Cardiff Blues last weekend with a number of players back from injury. In the backs Joey Carbery and Dave Kearney come into the back three for their first appearances of the season, as does centre Noel Reid. It’s also a revamped forward pack, including a first-ever start for young second row James Ryan, who made his international debut for Ireland in the summer.

Talking points: Leinster’s build-up to the game has been disrupted by visa issues for Isa Nacewa and Jamison Gibson-Park, who had to return to Dublin to resolve the issue. They will now rejoin the side on Sunday for the second part of the South African tour, and will be available to face the Toyota Cheetahs. Leo Cullen confirmed that neither was due to start the game.

Key battle: The battle up front will likely be crucial to this game and the head-to-head between Schalk Ferreira and Andrew Porter should be particularly intriguing. Kings skipper and loosehead Ferreira is vastly experienced and will go up against Porter, a highly-promising former Ireland Under-20s prop. Having switched from loosehead to tighthead, this will be a good test of Porter’s development.

Key stat: Leinster have won each of their first two games with a bonus point but have not taken 15 points from 15 in their first three games since the 2001/2 season.

Did you know? Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth becomes the 40th different venue to host a Guinness PRO14 encounter, and the first in South Africa.

Leinster: J Carbery, A Byrne, R O’Loughlin, N Reid, D Kearney, R Byrne, L McGrath, E Byrne, S Cronin, A Porter, R Molony, J Ryan, R Ruddock, J Murphy, J Conan.

Replacements: J Tracy, C Healy, M Bent, M Kearney, J van der Flier, N McCarthy, C Marsh, J Larmour.

Southern Kings: M Banda, Y Penxe, B Klaasen, L Vulindlu, S Sithole, K Coleman, R van Rooyen, S Ferreira, M Willemse, L Pupuma, S Greeff, D van Schalkwyk, K Majola, V Sekekete, A Ntsila
Replacements: S Coetzee, P Strauss, M Dreyer, B de Wee, S Mdaka, G Masimla, N Dukisa/O Zono, J Nel

TV: SuperSport 1/TG4 (KO 2.15pm local)

Match officials – Referee: Ben Whitehouse (WRU) Assistant Referee 1: Mike Adamson (SRU) AR2: Cwengile Jadezweni (SARU) TMO: Johan Greeff (SARU)

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 be booked via www.ticketmaster.ie