Pro12: Van der Merwe up for it
Whilst the Southern Hemisphere sides continue their tours of Europe, the Pro12 competition returns to action.
The pick of the round must be the fixture between table-topping Ospreys and third-placed Ulster in Belfast on Friday.
Victory for the home team could see them swap places with their opponents, whereas an Ospreys win would stretch their lead even further at the top of the table.
Second-placed Glasgow Warriors are also in action on Friday with a trip to Llanelli to face Scarlets, a team who they completed the double against last season.
The remaining team in the play-off zone, Munster, also face a journey to Wales to play Newport Gwent Dragons the same day.
The round wraps up on Sunday with Leinster perhaps being the team with the most to prove; with the season almost one third of the way through, they have not climbed higher than fifth in the table to date.
South African import Franco van der Merwe is relishing the challenge of hosting the unbeaten Ospreys on Friday.
The Welsh region may have won seven from seven so far in the Pro12, but Ulster are not far off the pace, back in third with just one league defeat - at Zebre.
This is Ulster's fourth successive Pro12 game at the Kingspan Stadium, a venue where they have been defeated only once in the competition since September 2013.
They have also won four of their last five encounters with Ospreys, although in all five instances the losing side achieved a bonus point.
Neil Doak has the luxury of selecting three players released from international duty this week, with Darren Cave, Craig Gilroy and Stuart Olding each taking their place in the starting line-up.
Van der Merwe is excited to welcome the league leaders to Belfast.
"I've never played them before but they are top of the log and haven't lost a game so that speaks for itself," he said.
"But it's home advantage and the Kingspan gets fired up for Friday games.
"This is a big ten weeks and there are some very important Pro12 and European games coming up."
Ospreys boss Steve Tandy will have to do without as many as 10 internationals, making five personnel changes to the team that beat Connacht last time out.
They have won their last four games against Irish provinces, since Munster were victorious at Liberty Stadium in February, but have won in Belfast just once in their last four visits.
"There's no doubt about it, the next two weeks are going to be a real challenge for this group but like any Ospreys team, they won't shirk it and will give everything," said Tandy.
"It's a crucial period of the season, one that we didn't do well in last season, and we all know how important a good result or two during the international period can become the end of the year.
"These boys have to take responsibility for what we are trying to achieve, and have to realise that this is a fantastic opportunity for them to really make a positive impression in the shirt.
"We've got some big games coming up, this is the start of a massive period of rugby running through to the end of January, and everyone in the squad will have a part to play if we are going to achieve our aims.
"It's important that our preparation is spot on and that everybody involved knows their roles and responsibilities, you can't go to places like Ulster and Leinster if you aren't 100 per cent."
We look at all the Round Eight matches!
Friday, November 21
Newport Gwent Dragons v Munster
(Rodney Parade - Kick-off: 19.30; 19.30 GMT)
The teams:
Newport Gwent Dragons: 15 Geraint Rhys Jones, 14 Tyler Morgan, 13 Ross Wardle, 12 Ashley Smith, 11 Hallam Amos, 10 Dorian Jones, 9 Richie Rees, 8 Lewis Evans, 7 Nic Cudd, 6 James Thomas, 5 Rynard Landman (captain), 4 Cory Hill, 3 Dan Way, 2 Elliot Dee, 1 Brok Harris.
Replacements: 16 T Rhys Thomas, 17 Owen Evans, 18 Lloyd Fairbrother, 19 Matthew Screech, 20 Ollie Griffiths, 21 Jonathan Evans, 22 Jason Tovey, 23 Ashton Hewitt.
Munster: 15 JJ Hanrahan, 14 Andrew Conway, 13 Andrew Smith, 12 Denis Hurley, 11 Ronan O'Mahony, 10 Ian Keatley, 9 Cathal Sheridan, 8 Robin Copeland, 7 Sean Dougall, 6 Paddy Butler, 5 Billy Holland, 4 Donncha O'Callaghan (captain), 3 Stephen Archer, 2 Eusebio Guiñazú, 1 John Ryan.
Replacements: 16 Duncan Casey, 17 Alan Cotter, 18 BJ Botha, 19 Dave O'Callaghan, 20 CJ Stander, 21 Duncan Williams, 22 Pat Howard, 23 Johne Murphy.
Referee: Matteo Liperini
Assistant referees: Simon Rees, Martyn Lewis
Connacht v Zebre
(Sportsground - Kick-off: 19.35; 19.35 GMT)
The teams:
Connacht: 15 Mils Muliaina, 14 Danie Poolman, 13 Bundee Aki, 12 Dave McSharry, 11 Matt Healy, 10 Miah Nikora, 9 Ian Porter, 8 George Naoupu, 7 Willie Faloon, 6 John Muldoon (captain), 5 Quinn Roux, 4 Mick Kearney, 3 Ronan Loughney, 2 Jason Harris-Wright, 1 Denis Buckley.
Replacements: 16 Dave Heffernan, 17 Tom McCartney, 18 Finlay Bealham, 19 Andrew Browne, 20 Eoin McKeon, 21 John Cooney, 22 Jack Carty, 23 Darragh Leader.
Zebre: 15 Hendrik Daniller, 14 David Odiete, 13 Giulio Bisegni, 12 Matteo Pratichetti, 11 Michele Visentin, 10 Edoardo Padovani, 9 Brendon Leonard, 8 Andries Van Schalkwyk, 7 Filippo Cristiano, 6 Mauro Bergamasco (captain), 5 Valerio Bernabò, 4 Andries Ferreira, 3 Luca Redolfini, 2 Oliviero Fabiani, 1 Andrea De Marchi.
Replacements: 16 Roberto Santamaria, 17 Andrea Lovotti, 18 Luciano Leibson, 19 Jacopo Sarto, 20 Braam Steyn, 21 Alberto Chillon, 22 Dion Berryman, 23 Mirco Bergamasco.
Referee: Ben Whitehouse
Assistant referees: Andy Brace, Olly Hodges
TMO: Jude Quinn
Scarlets v Glasgow Warriors
(Parc y Scarlets - Kick-off: 19.35; 19.35 GMT)
The teams:
Scarlets: 15 Steffan Evans, 14 Harry Robinson, 13 Regan King, 12 Gareth Owen, 11 Michael Tagicakibau, 10 Steven Shingler, 9 Aled Davies, 8 John Barclay (captain), 7 James Davies, 6 Aaron Shingler, 5 Johan Snyman, 4 George Earle, 3 Peter Edwards, 2 Kirby Myhill, 1 Rob Evans.
Replacements: 16 Emyr Phillips, 17 Phil John, 18 Jacobie Adriaanse, 19 Rob McCusker, 20 Rory Pitman, 21 Rhodri Williams, 22 Rhys Priestland, 23 Steffan Hughes.
Glasgow Warriors: 15 Peter Murchie, 14 Lee Jones, 13 Richie Vernon, 12 James Downey, 11 Rory Hughes, 10 Peter Horne, 9 Ali Price, 8 Ryan Wilson, 7 Chris Fusaro, 6 Josh Strauss, 5 Al Kellock (captain), 4 Tom Ryder, 3 Zander Fagerson, 2 Pat MacArthur, 1 Alex Allan.
Replacements: 16 Kevin Bryce, 17 Jon Welsh, 18 Rossouw de Klerk, 19 James Eddie, 20 Tyrone Holmes, 21 Niko Matawalu, 22 Connor Braid, 23 Glenn Bryce.
Referee: David Wilkinson
Assistant referees: Craig Evans, Jon Mason
TMO: Tim Hayes
Ulster v Ospreys
(Kingspan Stadium - Kick-off: 19.35; 19.35 GMT)
The teams:
Ulster: 15 Stuart Olding, 14 Louis Ludik, 13 Darren Cave, 12 Stuart McCloskey, 11 Craig Gilroy, 10 Paddy Jackson, 9 Paul Marshall, 8 Roger Wilson (captain), 7 Sean Reidy, 6 Clive Ross, 5 Franco van der Merwe, 4 Lewis Stevenson, 3 Wiehahn Herbst, 2 Rob Herring, 1 Callum Black.
Replacements: 16 John Andrew, 17 Andrew Warwick, 18 Declan Fitzpatrick, 19 Alan O'Connor, 20 Nick Williams, 21 Michael Heaney, 22 Ian Humphreys, 23 Peter Nelson.
Ospreys: 15 Dan Evans, 14 Tom Grabham, 13 Andrew Bishop, 12 Ashley Beck, 11 Aisea Natoga, 10 Sam Davies, 9 Martin Roberts, 8 Dan Baker, 7 Sam Lewis, 6 James King, 5 Rynier Bernardo, 4 Lloyd Peers (captain), 3 Dmitri Arhip, 2 Sam Parry, 1 Duncan Jones.
Replacements: 16 Matthew Dwyer, 17 Marc Thomas, 18 Cai Griffiths, 19 Rory Thornton, 20 Ifereimi Boladau, 21 Ieuan Jones, 22 Tom Habberfield, 23 Hanno Dirksen.
Referee: Neil Hennessy
Assistant referees: Nigel Correll, Brian MacNeice
TMO: Kevin Beggs
Sunday, November 23
Benetton Treviso v Leinster
(Stadio Monigo - Kick-off: 15.30; 14.30 GMT & UK time)
Teams:
Benetton Treviso: 15 Jayden Hayward, 14 Andrea Pratichetti, 13 Enrico Bacchin, 12 Sam Christie, 11 Ludovico Nitoglia, 10 Joe Carlisle, 9 Alberto Lucchese, 8 Mat Luamanu, 7 Dean Budd, 6 Marco Barbini, 5 Corniel Van Zyl (captain), 4 Tomas Vallejos, 3 Rupert Harden, 2 Davide Giazzon, 1 Matteo Zanusso.
Replacements: 16 Amar Kudin, 17 Josè Novak, 18 Romulo Acosta, 19 Marco Fuser, 20 Meyer Swanepoel, 21 Leo Auva'a, 22 Ruggero Trevisan, 23 James Ambrosini.
Leinster: 15 Zane Kirchner, 14 Darragh Fanning, 13 Luke Fitzgerald, 12 Noel Reid, 11 Dave Kearney, 10 Jimmy Gopperth, 9 Luke McGrath, 8 Jack Conan, 7 Jordi Murphy, 6 Kevin McLaughlin (captain), 5 Kane Douglas, 4 Tom Denton, 3 Tadhg Furlong, 2 Richardt Strauss, 1 Michael Bent.
Replacements: 16 Bryan Byrne, 17 Peter Dooley, 18 Jamie Hagan, 19 Ben Marshall, 20 Dominic Ryan, 21 Isaac Boss, 22 Cathal Marsh, 23 Brendan Macken.
Referee: Neil Paterson
Assistant referees: Claudio Blessano, Andrea Spadoni
TMO: Mauro Dordolo
Edinburgh v Cardiff Blues
(Murrayfield - Kick-off: 16.00; 16.00 GMT)
Teams:
Edinburgh: 15 Nick McLennan, 14 Dougie Fifi, 13 Sam Beard, 12 Andries Strauss, 11 Tom Brown, 10 Tom Heathcote, 9 Sam Hidalgo-Clyne, 8 David Denton, 7 Roddy Grant, 6 Mike Coman (captain), 5 Ben Toolis, 4 Ollie Atkins, 3 Willem Nel, 2 James Hilterbrand, 1 Rory Sutherland.
Replacements: 16 Neil Cochrane, 17 Grant Shiells, 18 John Andress, 19 Fraser McKenzie, 20 Tomas Leonardi, 21 Grayson Hart, 22 Greig Tonks, 23 Matt Scott.
Cardiff Blues: 15 Gareth Anscombe, 14 Richard Smith, 13 Adam Thomas, 12 Gavin Evans, 11 Dan Fish, 10 Gareth Davies, 9 Lloyd Williams, 8 Manoa Vosawai, 7 Ellis Jenkins, 6 Josh Turnbull, 5 Macauley Cook, 4 Jarrad Hoeata, 3 Adam Jones (captain), 2 Kristian Dacey, 1 Sam Hobbs.
Replacements: 16 Rhys Williams, 17 Thomas Davies, 18 Scott Andrews, 19 Chris Dicomidis, 20 Josh Navidi, 21 Lewis Jones, 22 Garyn Smith, 23 Geraint Walsh.
Referee: Leo Colgan
Assistant referees: David Changleng, Stephen Hart
TMO: Iain Ramage