The two week break for European competition has seen the Pro12 teams return with an impressive record having performed well in both Cup competitions.

Edinburgh, Leinster, and Scarlets top three of the European Cup pools, with Ospreys sharing the lead in a fourth, whilst Newport Gwent Dragons head their pool in the Challenge Cup.

In the top tier competition Pro12 teams have won 11 of the 18 games played against teams from other European Leagues, with the Welsh regions doing particularly well as they have not yet lost a game.

The Pro12 action starts on Thursday at the City Stadium, Cardiff, when Cardiff Blues face Aironi Rugby.

The Blues, who find themselves sitting second to Edinburgh in their European pool, will be aiming for the double over their Italian opponents this season, and in the process perhaps reclaiming their place in the play-off Zone.

The following day sees an all Welsh derby with Scarlets hosting Newport Gwent Dragons at Parc y Scarlets. Both teams have performed well over the past two European weekends, Scarlets along with Edinburgh one of the only two teams in the top tier of the European competition to have claimed nine out of a possible 10 match points, so this promises to be an intriguing fixture as Dragons themselves are also unbeaten in the Challenge Cup.

Also on Friday, Glasgow Warriors will hope to continue their good start to their Pro12 season that has seen them rise to fourth in the table occupying one of the play-off places, with victory over Ulster after both teams lost in Europe last weekend.

Ospreys, top of the table for the fourth round running, travel to Connacht on Saturday a ground where the visitors have not lost since May 2008. Ospreys were the only Welsh Region not to win in Europe last round, being held to a thrilling 26 all draw by fellow Pro12 team, Benetton Treviso.

Benetton Treviso are also in action themselves on Saturday, welcoming the reigning European champions, Leinster, to Stadio Monigo. The Italian outfit have started this season's Pro12 campaign well this season, with four wins from eight, and are currently just outside the play-off zone. The visit of Leinster should not hold any fears for them Treviso won this same fixture last season.

The round wraps up in Limerick where reigning champions Munster Having slipped to 3rd in the table, will be looking for a home victory to get their campaign back on track, however they face a resurgent Edinburgh, who are heading Pool Two of the European Cup

We look at all the Round Nine matches:

Thursday, November 24:

Cardiff Blues v Aironi
(Cardiff City Stadium - 19.30, 19.30 GMT)

Cardiff Blues have won their last three matches in all competitions, and coincidentally all by six point winning margins.

The Blues have won their last two games in the Pro12, but both were played away from home. At Cardiff City Stadium Cardiff Blues have lost their last two in this competition. The Region have won all 11 previous clashes with Italian sides.

Aironi's last two encounters in the Pro12, against Munster and Glasgow, both were tryless games which ended in 6-18 defeats.

The two teams have already met this season, with Blues winning 37-26 in Viadana in round six.

Teams:

Blues: 15 Chris Czekaj, 14 Richard Mustoe, 13 Gavin Evans, 12 Dafydd Hewitt, 11 Tom James, 10 Dan Parks, 9 Richie Rees, 8 Maama Molitika, 7 Josh Navidi, 6 Michael Paterson, 5 Paul Tito (captain), 4 Cory Hill, 3 Taufa'ao Filise, 2 T Rhys Thomas, 1 John Yapp.
Replacements: 16 Marc Breeze, 17 Nathan Trevett, 18 Sam Hobbs, 19 McCauley Cook, 20 Ellis Jenkins, 21 Lewis Jones, 22 Ceri Sweeney, 23 Casey Laulala.

Aironi: 15 Ruggero Trevisan, 14 Giulio Toniolatti, 13 Sinoti Sinoti, 12 Gilberto Pavan, 11 Giovanbattista Venditti, 10 Naas Olivier, 9 Tito Tebaldi, 8 Josh Sole, 7 Filippo Ferrarini, 6 Nicola Cattina, 5 George Biagi, 4 Quintin Geldenhuys (cap), 3 Fabio Staibano, 2 Tommaso D'Apice, 1 Alberto De Marchi.
Replacements: 16 Fabio Ongaro, 17 Salvatore Perugini, 18 Lorenzo Romano, 19 Joshua Furno, 20 Frans Viljoen, 21 Tyson Keats, 22 Roberto Quartaroli, 23 Matteo Pratichetti.

Referee : Leo Colgan (Ireland)
Assistant Referees: James Jones, Sean Brickell (both Wales)
TMO: Paul Adams (Wales)

Friday, November 25

Glasgow Warriors v Ulster
(Firhill Stadium - 19.35; 19.35 GMT)

Glasgow Warriors' five game winning run in all competitions was snapped by Pro12 rivals Leinster at the RDS on Sunday. The Warriors have won five of their last six matches in the Pro12 tournament, and have been victorious in their last three encounters at Firhill.

Ulster's 22-3 triumph over Connacht in round eight ended a four game losing streak in the Pro12. The Ulstermen have won five of their last six clashes against Scottish opponents.

Ulster have won their last three matches against the Warriors, and have won on three of their five previous visits to Firhill.

Teams:

Glasgow Warriors: TBC

Ulster: TBC

Referee : Stefano Penne (Italy)
Assistant Referees: Andy Macpherson, Alan Forrest (both Scotland)
TMO: Ian Ramage (Scotland)

Scarlets v Newport Gwent Dragons
(Parc y Scarlets - 19.05; 19.05 GMT)

Scarlets are unbeaten in their last seven matches in all competitions., since their 10-20 reversal in Treviso in the Pro12 on 1 October. The Welshmen have won their last four games at Parc y Scarlets, and are undefeated in their last three encounters with fellow Welsh Regions.

Newport Gwent Dragons have begun their European Challenge Cup campaign with back to back wins over Prato and Perpignan, but in Pro12 play have won just one of their last four matches. Dragons have not won away from home in this competition since a visit to Aironi on 20 February. The Men from Gwent have won four of their last five encounters with fellow Welsh Regions.

Scarlets have won the last six clashes with Dragons in this tournament, but the Newport based outfit won 26-9 when the two sides met in the Anglo-Welsh Cup at Rodney Parade on 6 February.

Teams:

Scarlets: TBC

Newport Gwent Dragons: TBC

Referee: Leighton Hodges (Wales)
Assistant Referees: Tim Hayes, Jon Mason (Wales)
TMO: Nigel Whitehouse (Wales)

Saturday, November 26:

Benetton Treviso v Leinster
(Stadio Monigo - 15.00; 14.00 GMT)

Benetton Treviso's four game winning run in the Pro12 ended at the hands of Edinburgh in round eight, but the Italians won the last time they faced Irish opposition: 23-12 against Ulster at Ravenhill on 7 October.

Leinster are unbeaten in their last seven matches in all competitions since their 19-23 reversal at home to Glasgow in round three of the Pro12. The Leinstermen's only away defeat this season came on the opening weekend against Ospreys in Swansea. Leinster have won their last four encounters with adversaries from Italy.

Each side won its respective home games when the two teams clashed in this tournament last season.

Teams:

Benetton Treviso: TBC

Leinster: TBC

Referee: George Clancy (Ireland)
Assistant Referees: Stefano Traversi, Matteo Liperni (both Italy)
TMO: Stefano Marrama (Italy)

Connacht v Ospreys
(Sportsground - 18.30; 18.30 GMT)

Connacht have slipped to six straight defeats in all competitions, since their 17-13 victory against Newport Gwent Dragons at the Galway Sportsground on 23 September.

Ospreys sit at the top of the Pro12 table and are unbeaten in their last three matches in all competitions, a sequence which includes two draws. The Welshmen have won all four contests they have played against Irish opponents so far this campaign.

Connacht have not beaten Ospreys since 9 May 2008 when the Welsh Region visited the Sportsground and perished 24-20.

Teams:

Connacht: TBC

Ospreys: TBC

Referee: Andrew McMenemy (Scotland)
Assistant Referees: Michael Black, Barrie O'Connell (both Ireland)
TMO: Seamus Flannery (Ireland)

Munster v Edinburgh
(Thomond Park - 20.30; 20.30 GMT)

Munster have won three of their last four games in all competitions., whilst their only home defeat this season was to Ospreys at Thomond Park in the Pro12 on 8 October. The Munstermen have won their last six home games against Scottish opponents since Glasgow won 21-18 in Cork on 10 May 2008.

Edinburgh Rugby have won three successive matches in all competitions, their best run since the opening of the 2009/10 season. The Scotsmen's only victory in their last eleven visits to Ireland since 2008 was 16-13 over Ulster at Ravenhill on 18 September 2009.

The two sides have already met in round five of the Pro12 with Edinburgh winning 29-14 at Murrayfield. Edinburgh have not achieved a season's double over Munster since season 2003/04.

Teams:

Munster: TBC

Edinburgh: TBC

Referee: Neil Paterson (Scotland)
Assistant Referees: John Carvill, Brian Macneice
TMO: Jude Quinn (Ireland)