Round 22 of the Pro12 promises to be a fitting finale to the regular season, with Play-Off spots and European qualification still to be settled.

As with previous seasons all 6 games will kick off simultaneously to add to the excitement and give no advantage to any team.

At the top of the table 3 teams are still in contention for the 2 home Play-Off spots and European qualification still to be settled.

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Only 4th placed Ulster know that they will be away in the knockout stage. They are away to 1 of those potential opponents when they face Munster at Thomond Park on Saturday.

The 2 teams currently in the home Play-Off slots, Leinster and Glasgow Warriors, also have home fixtures this weekend, against Zebre and Edinburgh respectively.

Both hosts are on a run of good results, so will be hoping to carry that form on into the Play-Off’s.

At the other end of the table Zebre and Benetton Treviso are locked together on 29 points and will be searching for the result that will secure 1 of them the Italian spot in next season’s European Champions Cup.

This makes the games at Scotstoun and Rodney Parade vital to the Italian teams’ prospects.

Dan Biggar has backed the Ospreys to bounce back from last Friday’s setback against Zebre, pointing to the progress of the next generation in the squad as evidence that the region is heading in the right direction.

“Another pre-season for this group, and more game time together, and you’ll see the boys coming on leaps and bounds, I have no doubt about that,” said Biggar. “Look at how far some of them have come on this season after being in the environment and stepping up to play for the Ospreys.”

“A lot of them are 19, 20, and this is their first season of professional rugby but look how far they’ve come in a short period of time. This time next year they’ll be that much further down the line.”

“There’s no place to learn like out on the pitch in high pressure games and with the support of the coaches and the older players, they can use this to come out the other side stronger.”

“Let’s not think for 1 minute that we are using the younger players as an excuse for the loss, or pointing the finger. As senior players we didn’t deliver either on some occasions. We’ve got to get that balance right.”

“This year has been great for discovering what options we have, discovering people’s strengths and weaknesses and I think that 6 months or a year down the line we will be in a much better place than we were at the start of this season.”

“I know it sounds strange off the back of a defeat in Zebre but I am genuinely hugely, hugely excited about next season and the talent we’ve got coming through and what we can achieve with a bit more time together and a bit more experience under the belt.”

We look at all the Round 22 games:

Saturday 10 May

Glasgow Warriors vs Zebre:

(Scotstoun – Kick-Off: 18:30 BST, 17:30 GMT, 19:30 SA Time)

Glasgow Warriors have already qualified for the Play-Off’s, but a win here could see them climb to No 1 seed. Warriors have won their last 7 Pro12 matches which equals their best ever run, set last season. Glasgow have not lost to an Italian opponent since Treviso visited Firhill in September 2011.

Zebre currently hold the Italian qualification spot for the European Champions Cup next year and simply need to gain as many league points as Benetton Treviso do from their Round 22 fixture to secure that spot, providing they maintain their match points difference.

Zebre have won their last 2 matches against Edinburgh and Ospreys, which is already a club record.

Glasgow have taken all their previous clashes with Zebre although the Italians did gain a losing bonus point in their fixture in Parma in Round 4.

Teams:

Glasgow: 15 Stuart Hogg, 14 Sean Lamont, 13 Alex Dunbar, 12 Peter Horne, 11 Niko Matawalu, 10 Duncan Weir, 9 Henry Pyrgos, 8 Leone Nakarawa, 7 Chris Fusaro, 6 James Eddie, 5 Al Kellock (captain), 4 Tim Swinson, 3 Moray Low, 2 Pat MacArthur, 1 Ryan Grant.

Zebre: 15 David Odiete, 14 Giulio Toniolatti, 13 Gonzalo Garcia, 12 Giovanbattista Venditti, 11 Dion Berryman, 10 Tommaso Iannone, 9 Guglielmo Palazzani, 8 Samuela Vunisa, 7 Andries van Schalkwyk, 6 Mauro Bergamasco, 5 Marco Bortolami (captain), 4 Quintin Geldenhuys, 3 Dario Chistolini, 2 Davide Giazzoni, 1 Salvatore Perugini.

Referee: Alain Rolland
Assistant Referees: Neil Paterson, Graeme Marshall
TMO: Jim Yuille (SRU)

Leinster vs Edinburgh:

(RDS Dublin – Kick-Off: 18:30 BST, 17:30 GMT, 19:30 SA Time)

Leinster need just 1 match point to guarantee a home Play-Off and 2 to guarantee that they will be top seed. The defending Pro12 champions have lost just 1 of their last 11 contests in the competition, 19-25 at Ospreys in Round 19.

The Leinstermen have not been defeated at the RDS in any competition since Ulster were the visitors for a Pro12 encounter in March 2013.

Edinburgh have slipped to 4 straight defeats in the Pro12 since their 23-19 victory against Dragons at Rodney Parade in Round 13. Edinburgh have been defeated on all 4 visits to Irish provinces in all tournaments in 2014.

Edinburgh won 11-6 when the 2 sides met at Murrayfield in Round 10, whilst the Scotsmen are going for a 1st season’s double over Leinster since 2003 / 2004.

Edinburgh have not won in Dublin since a trip to Donnybrook in November 2005.

Teams:

Leinster: 15 Zane Kirchner, 14 Fergus McFadden, 13 Brian O’Driscoll, 12 Gordon D’Arcy, 11 Dave Kearney, 10 Jimmy Gopperth, 9 Isaac Boss, 8 Jamie Heaslip, 7 Jordi Murphy, 6 Sean O’Brien, 5 Mike McCarthy, 4 Leo Cullen, 3 Mike Ross, 2 Richardt Strauss, 1 Jack McGrath.

Edinburgh: 15 Carl Bezuidenhout, 14 Sam Beard, 13 Matt Scott, 12 Andries Strauss, 11 Tim Visser, 10 Harry Leonard, 9 Greig Laidlaw (captain), 8 Dave Denton, 7 Tomas Leonardi, 6 Mike Coman, 5 Ben Toolis, 4 Grant Gilchrist, 3 WP Nel, 2 Ross Ford, 1 Al Dickinson.

Referee: Leighton Hodges
Assistant Referees: Peter Fitzgibbon, Kieran Barry
TMO: Seamus Flannery

Munster vs Ulster:

(Thomond Park – Kick-Off: 18:30 BST, 17:30 GMT, 19:30 SA Time)

Munster are guaranteed a top 3 finish, but a victory and other results going in their favour could see them finish in top spot.

The Munstermen’s last 3 matches in the Pro12 have all been won by the away side on the day, whilst they were defeated by Glasgow at Thomond Park in their most recent home game but have not lost back to back contests in Limerick in the competition since April 2010.

Ulster have already ensured they will finish 4th in the table but have won only 1 of their last 4 Pro12 matches, at home to Connacht in Round 19.

The Ulstermen have lost their last 2 away games, at Cardiff Blues and at Glasgow.

Ulster beat Munster 29-19 at Ravenhill in Round 12, and have not achieved a season’s double over the Munstermen since 2008 / 2009.

Teams:

Munster: 15 Felix Jones, 14 Gerhard van den Heever, 13 Casey Laulala, 12 James Downey, 11 Simon Zebo, 10 Ian Keatley, 9 Duncan Williams, 8 James Coughlan. 7 Sean Dougall, 6 Paddy Butler, 5 Paul O’Connell, 4 Dave Foley, 3 John Ryan, 2 Damien Varley (captain), 1 Dave Kilcoyne.

Ulster: 15 Craig Gilroy, 14 David McIlwaine, 13 Michael Allen, 12 Stuart McCloskey, 11 Rory Scholes, 10 James McKinney, 9 Michael Heaney, 8 Nick Williams; 7 Sean Doyle, 6 Mike McComish, 5 Dan Tuohy (captain), 4 Lewis Stevenson, 3 Andrew Warwick, 2 Rob Herring, 1 Callum Black.

Newport Gwent Dragons vs Benetton Treviso:

(Rodney Parade – Kick-Off: 18:30 BST, 17:30 GMT, 19:30 SA Time)

Dragons are without a win in their last 7 Pro12 fixtures, since they beat Glasgow 24-23 at Rodney Parade in February.

Treviso need to finish the Round having obtained more league points than Zebre to wrestle the Italian European qualification spot form their closest rivals.

Treviso have lost their last 2 matches, to Leinster and to Glasgow, whilst this is their last chance to win an away game this season. Benetton‘s only victory in Wales since April 2012 came in Round 22 last season at the Scarlets.

Dragons have won only 1 of their last 5 fixtures with Treviso, 23-14 at Rodney Parade in February 2013.

Teams:

Dragons: 15 Hallam Amos, 14 Tom Prydie, 13 Pat Leach, 12 Jack Dixon, 11 Will Harries, 10 Jason Tovey, 9 Richie Rees, 8 Taulupe Faletau, 7 Nic Cudd, 6 Lewis Evans, 5 Matthew Screech, 4 Andrew Coombs (captain), 3 Duncan Bell, 2 T Rhys Thomas, 1 Phil Price.

Treviso: 15 Luke McLean, 14 Ludovico Nitoglia, 13 Michele Campagnaro, 12 Alberto Sgarbi, 11 Angelo Esposito, 10 Alberto Di Bernardo, 9 Fabio Semenzato, 8 Manoa Vosawai, 7 Paul Derbyshire, 6 Christian Loamanu, 5 Marco Fuser, 4 Antonio Pavanello (captain), 3 Lorenzo Cittadini, 2 Leonardo Ghiraldini, 1 Alberto De Marchi.

Referee: John Lacey
Assistant Referees: TBC
TMO: TBC

Ospreys vs Connacht:

(Liberty Stadium – Kick-Off: 18:30 BST, 17:30 GMT, 19:30 SA Time)

Ospreys cannot make the Pro12 Play-Off’s but have qualified for next season’s European Champions Cup, finishing in 5th place for the 2nd year in succession.

Ospreys have lost just 1 of their last 5 home games in all tournaments, 11-25 to Munster in the Pro12 at Liberty Stadium in February.

A victory could see Connacht equal their best ever finish in the Pro12. Connacht have lost their last 4 matches since beating Dragons at Rodney Parade in Round 17.

Connacht have won just 1 of their last 11 fixtures with Ospreys, 22-10 in Galway in February 2013 and have not beaten Ospreys on their own soil since a visit to the Gnoll in November 2004.

Teams:

Ospreys: 15 Sam Davies, 14 Hanno Dirksen, 13 Ashley Beck, 12 Andrew Bishop, 11 Jeff Hassler, 10 Dan Biggar, 9 Tom Habberfield, 8 Dan Baker, 7 Justin Tipuric, 6 Sam Lewis, 5 Ian Evans, 4 Alun Wyn Jones (captain), 3 Aaron Jarvis, 2 Scott Baldwin, 1 Nicky Smith.

Connacht: 15 Darragh Leader, 14 Danie Poolman, 13 Eoin Griffin, 12 Dave McSharry, 11 Matt Healy, 10 Miah Nikora, 9 Kieran Marmion, 8 John Muldoon (captain), 7 Conor Gilsean, 6 Andrew Browne, 5 Mick Kearney, 4 Aly Muldowney, 3 Ronan Loughney, 2 Dave Heffernan, 1 Denis Buckley.

Referee: Andrew McMenemy
Assistant Referees: TBC
TMO: TBC

Scarlets vs Cardiff Blues:

(Parc y Scarlets- Kick-Off: 18:30 BST, 17:30 GMT, 19:30 SA Time)

Scarlets have already secured a European Champions Cup rugby spot for next season and 6th spot in the Pro12. Scarlets only defeat in their last 4 Pro12 matches was to Cardiff Blues at Millennium Stadium, 3 weeks ago.

Scarlets are unbeaten at Parc y Scarlets in the Pro12 in 2014.

Cardiff Blues have won their last 4 matches since their defeat at Ospreys in Round 17 – equalling their best run in the competition since 2010 / 2011.

Blues have won only once at a fellow Welsh Region in the last 4 seasons of Pro12 play, 16-5 at the Dragons in September 2012.

Cardiff Blues’ 17-13 victory over Scarlets on ‘Judgement Day’ ended an 8-game losing run to their opponents from the West in all tournaments.

Teams:

Scarlets: 15 Liam Williams, 14 Kristian Phillips, 13 Jonathan Davies (captain), 12 Steven Shingler, 11 Jordan Williams, 10 Rhys Priestland, 9 Rhodri Williams, 8 Rob McCusker 7 Aaron Shingler, 6 Josh Turnbull, 5 Johan Snyman, 4 Jake Ball, 3 Samson Lee, 2 Ken Owens, 1 Phil John.

Blues: 15 Dan Fish, 14 Alex Cuthbert, 13 Cory Allen, 12 Isaia Tuifua, 11 Harry Robinson, 10 Simon Humberstone, 9 Lewis Jones, 8 Robin Copeland, 7 Josh Navidi, 6 Macauley Cook, 5 Filo Paulo, 4 Bradley Davies, 3 Taufa’ao Filise, 2 Matthew Rees (captain), 1 Gethin Jenkins.

Referee: Ian Davies
Assistant Referees: TBC
TMO: TBC