Leinster will look to maintain pole position as United Rugby Championship leaders during the latest round of action this week.
The Irish side face their hosts Benetton, knowing victory at Stadio Monigo would keep them in top spot.
Ulster can climb back to the summit if they beat Kingspan Stadium visitors Cardiff on Friday night but it would be short-lived if Leinster triumph less than 24 hours later while Edinburgh are also in action on Friday as they take on Connacht at the DAM Health Stadium.
Third-placed Glasgow Warriors, tucked in a point behind Ulster, head to West Wales on Saturday for an appointment with the Scarlets, knowing a win on the road would keep them firmly in the mix.
The same goes for Munster, in fourth, who will attempt to make home advantage count when they tackle the Dragons at Thomond Park.
Welsh Shield leaders Ospreys, meanwhile, can consolidate that position at home to Zebre Parma on Sunday, with the Italian side yet to taste victory in the URC this season.
SAT - Munster v Dragons - Thomond Park, Limerick | 17:15 UK & IRE | Live on TG4, S4C, Premier Sports, URC TV
Munster know victory will keep them in touch with the URC top three of Leinster, Ulster and Glasgow and they are unbeaten at home for eight games.
They lost their most recent fixture against Welsh opposition, though - 18-10 against the Ospreys – which ended a run of 15 successive wins.
Dragons have not tasted victory since winning at Connacht in October and their only previous triumph at Thomond Park was 18 years ago.
After beating Saturday's opponents 22-6 in December 2015, they have suffered seven successive defeats against Munster.
Officials:
Referee: Sam Grove-White (SRU, 19th competition game) Assistant: Andrew Cole, Stuart Douglas (both IRFU) TMO: Colin Stanley (IRFU)
Overall URC head-to-head record:
Played 32, Munster won 24, Dragons won 8.
Did you know?
- Munster’s only defeat in their last six first team matches was 11-13 at Glasgow in the United Rugby Championship on 11 February.
- The Munstermen have won their last eight games at Thomond Park since Connacht beat them there in the Rainbow Cup in May.
- Munster lost their most recent match against a Welsh region, 10-18 to Ospreys in Swansea in October to end a run of fifteen successive victories against such opponents.
- Dragons have not won since beating Connacht 25-22 in Galway on 9 October. That victory is the Dragons only one over an Irish province since September 2017.
- Munster have won their last seven fixtures against Dragons since the Welshmen’s 22-6 victory at Rodney Parade in December 2015.
- Dragons only previous win at Thomond Park came on their very first visit in March 2004.
