Benetton Rugby will break new ground on Saturday as they become the first Italian team to feature in the Guinness PRO14 Final Series.

Their reward is a trip to Thomond Park to take on a Munster side that finished the season on a high.

Johann van Graan’s side won nine of their last ten Guinness PRO14 encounters and completed an unbeaten regular season at home by seeing off fellow Final Series qualifiers Connacht on the final day of the campaign.

The Limerick-based side are looking to reach a third final in five seasons but you have to go back to 2011 for their last title, something of which Van Graan, Peter O’Mahony and the rest of the Munster squad will be acutely aware.

What’s at stake?

Holders Leinster lie in wait for the victors of Saturday’s clash.

The prospect of a semi-final at the home of their old foes is certainly an enticing one for Munster, who will be hoping to build on their superb home form this season against the Italians.

For Benetton, a bonus-point win over Zebre clinched a spot in the post-season and a quarter-final in Limerick, with Kieran Crowley determined to show that the Leoni are ready to seize the opportunity and book a semi-final date with Leinster.

Keeping their season alive for a further week will not be easy against a Munster side who have had the edge in recent meetings, most notably a 37-28 win in Treviso last month.

Victory at the Stadio Monigo made it 22 in a row for Munster against Italian opposition – and you have to go back to 2013 for Benetton’s last win over the Irish province.

But with the attacking talents of the likes of Monty Ioane and Iliesa Ratuva Tavuyara out wide, and Tommaso Allan pulling the strings, Benetton arrive in Ireland looking to upset the odds once again.

Team news (Munster):

Munster have made three changes to the side that defeated Connacht last weekend, with Rory Scannell, Keith Earls, and Conor Murray coming into the back line.

Key figures for Ireland in the recent Guinness Six Nations campaign, Earls and Murray start on the wing and at scrum-half respectively, with Scannell pairing up with Chris Farrell in the centres.

There is, however, no place for the talented fly-half Joey Carbery, who has once again been ruled out through injury.

In his absence, able deputy Tyler Bleyendaal will look to steer Van Graan’s men to a last four berth.

Team news (Benetton):

Guinness Players’ Player of the Season nominee Monty Ioane headlines a reinforced Benetton side for the daunting trip to Thomond Park.

The electric Australian, who has scored six tries so far this campaign, is part of an exciting back division that shows several changes from the team that secured a bonus-point win over Zebre last time out.

Ratuva Tavuyara and Marco Zanon both return, with Jayden Hayward continuing at 15.

The back row sees Sebastian Negri, Abraham Steyn and Toa Halafihi complete a starting lineup filled with both physicality and guile.

Talking points

Munster head coach Johann van Graan said: “We got eight more league points than last season, which is a huge positive.

“Also, we have the best home record, 47 out of 50 points. Glasgow finished with the most points, but it comes down to three points over 21 rounds.

“I’d love to have a home semi-final, but recent results didn’t go our way. But we’ve improved from last year.”

Benetton head coach Kieran Crowley said: “I’m very proud of everything we have done off the pitch. The medical staff, the physios, the other coaches, and everyone who works behind the scenes to help the 15 on the pitch.

“We don’t want to stop here. We have nothing to lose because nobody expected us to get here.”

Key battle – Peter O’Mahony v Sebastian Negri

A ferocious presence both at the breakdown and in the tackle, Munster captain O’Mahony sets the tempo for his side’s work out of possession, while also playing a key role at lineout time.

But the 29-year-old is unlikely to have it all his own way on Saturday, with Italy flanker Negri a keen back-row competitor in his own right.

Winning the battle of the breakdown may hold the key to winning the war.

Key stat: No Italian side has ever been victorious at Thomond Park in any tournament.

Did you know? Munster Rugby, who are attempting to reach their fourth semi-final in the last five years, have lost just once in the Guinness PRO14 in 2019 – 6-10 at Scarlets in Round 17

Munster: Mike Haley; Andrew Conway, Chris Farrell, Rory Scannell, Keith Earls, Tyler Bleyendaal, Conor Murray; Dave Kilcoyne, Niall Scannell, Stephen Archer; Jean Kleyn, Tadhg Beirne, Peter O’Mahony (Capt), Chris Cloete, CJ Stander.

Replacements: Kevin O’Byrne, Jeremy Loughman, John Ryan, Billy Holland, Arno Botha, Alby Mathewson, JJ Hanrahan, Dan Goggin

Benetton: Jayden Hayward; Ratuva Tavuyara, Marco Zanon, Luca Morisi, Monty Ioane, Tommaso Allan (Capt), Dewaldt Duvenage, Nicola Quaglio, Luca Bigi, Marco Riccioni, Marco Lazzaroni, Federico Ruzza, Sebastian Negri, Abraham Steyn, Toa Halafihi.

Replacements: Hame Faiva, Derrick Appiah, Tiziano Pasquali, Irné Herbst, Dean Budd, Tito Tebaldi, Antonio Rizzi, Alberto Sgarbi

TV: Live on eir Sport, Premier Sports & DAZN

At Thomond Park, Limerick, 3.00pm.

Referee: Nigel Owens (WRU)

Assistant Referees: Ben Whitehouse, Dan Jones (both WRU) TMO: Ian Davies (WRU)

Citing Commissioner: Edie Walsh (IRFU)

The Guinness PRO14 Final is one of the most entertaining games in the rugby calendar and takes place in Glasgow’s Celtic Park on May 25. Tickets start at just £25 for adults, £1 for kids. Visit www.pro14rugby.org/finaltickets