A busy weekend of make-or-break rugby beckons as a quintet of Guinness PRO14 teams prepare to take on the Champions Cup knockouts.

No domestic competition can boast as many quarter-finalists as the PRO14; of the eight names still in the hat, five of them ply their trade in the competition.

Edinburgh, Munster, Glasgow Warriors, Leinster and Ulster all have their eyes on the prize, with at least two of the quintet guaranteed spots in the final four, given the pair of all-PRO14 match-ups.

Edinburgh take on Munster in Saturday’s early kick-off, while the Warriors head to London to face Saracens before Leinster host Ulster to complete a bumper day of rugby – after which the Guinness PRO14 could legitimately provide three-quarters of the Champions Cup semi-finalists.

SATURDAY

Edinburgh Rugby v Munster

12:45

BT Murrayfield Stadium

The first all-PRO14 clash of the afternoon, two of the competition’s high-flyers face off in an arena apt for the occasion.

BT Murrayfield plays host to the Saturday lunchtime clash as in-form Munster make the trip to the Scottish capital to face an Edinburgh side who have lost just once on home soil all season, and welcome captain Stuart McInally back into the fold for this one.

These sides last faced off back in November, with Munster running out 44-14 winners at Irish Independent Park, and Richard Cockerill’s men will be keen to settle the scores this time around.

But Murrayfield has been a happy hunting ground for Munster in recent years; in fact, the side have emerged from the Scottish capital victorious on four of their last trips, a run that will no-doubt give them confidence of repeating the feat once again.

And they are in the midst of a stirring run of results, with six Guinness PRO14 wins from their last seven propelling them all the way to within touching distance of Conference A’s summit.

Johann van Graan has named a side much-altered side, with Peter O’Mahony, Joey Carbery, Keith Earls and Conor Murray four of 11 changes from the province’s win over Zebre last time out.

While recent results have been somewhat patchy for Edinburgh, last weekend’s landmark 28-11 win over reigning Guinness PRO14 and Champions Cup champions Leinster should provide a tangible boost to confidence ahead of this one.

Saracens v Glasgow Warriors

15:15

Allianz Park

Conference A’s pace-setters, the Glasgow Warriors have been one of the PRO14’s standout performers so far this season.

In pole position to make domestic play-offs, how they would love to add a Champions Cup semi-final spot to their resume – an achievement that has so far eluded them in the competition.

But in order to do so, they’ll have to topple a formidable Saracens side, one who not only have recent pedigree of lifting the Champions Cup, but who also bettered the Warriors twice in this year’s Pool stages.

A closely fought 13-3 defeat in Glasgow was followed up with a topsy-turvy 38-19 loss in London, a match that could have gone either way.

With four wins from their last five PRO14 outings, however, those defeats have been long forgotten, and a side – boosted by the return of Stuart Hogg, no less – are ready to take yet another shot at the two-time champions.

Leinster v Ulster

17:45

Aviva Stadium

Two sides who know each other inside out, this quarter-final offering promises to be an all-time classic.

The top two in Conference B face off in Dublin, with fans expectant and storied records to match – both sides already with their names etched forever-more into the famous trophy as past winners.

But it is Leinster who reign, with four triumphs to Ulster’s one, the latest of which came just last season.

As the tournament’s holders, then, Leo Cullen’s men will count themselves favourites, with runaway success in Conference B testament to their quality.

But Ulster will be happy as underdogs, safe in the knowledge that form so often goes out of the window when derby clashes are concerned.

They welcome back Luke Marshall, who is involved for the first time this season after recovering from an ACL injury last May, while for Leinster Jordan Larmour gets the nod at full-back.

The hosts won 40-7 last time the sides met – in Round 13 of the PRO14 – and a repeat performance would be welcome from the Leinster camp, but Ulster have not lost since then, winning four and drawing one of their five subsequent fixtures.