It's messy out there.

Leinster only have 14 men for now but they are next to threaten as Ruben Moloney makes ground down the left wing before being hauled down by the covering Callum Sheedy.

He tries to fling an ambitious offload but Cardiff gets the ball back - and then Sheedy pulls of a 50-22!

Another attacking line-out then....

James Hook
Former Wales fly-half on Radio Wales Sport

Interesting decision from Cardiff to go for the corner when the three points were kickable.

It has been all Cardiff so far.

There were three points on offer, but Callum Sheedy opts for the corner.

He nails the kick within five metres but then Liam Belcher can't find his man at the line-out. A big chance wasted.

First big moment here.

Charlie Tector, on as early Leinster replacement, is blatantly late with a shoulder barge on Ben Thomas after he chipped forward.

That is 10 minutes for Tector, and a bunker review in the meantime.

Image source, Getty Images

Jamie Roberts
Former Wales international on S4C

Leinster are a perfect example of good training.

They've run through these plays in the week, but it's so tough to execute in these conditions.

It's up to the boys now to call the right moves for these conditions.

The scrum is already proving a problem for the home side.

Again, their own put-in results in a Leinster penalty after the Cardiff pack went back at a rate of knots.

Such is the modern way, that Leinster's front row celebrate like they have just overcome a group of rabid wolverines with their own bare hands.

The scrum comes to nothing has the Leinster pack earn a penalty - and now it's the away side on the front foot as their forwards go through numerous carries.

The Cardiff defence is up to the task though, and eventually Harry Byrne can only wastefully kick possession away.

Jamie Roberts
Former Wales international on S4C

Cardiff are moving the ball nicely early on.

Cardiff are showing no shortage of intent early on and are looking to go wide at every opportunity.

But it's a Leinster error that has set up an attacking scrum here, Jimmy O'Brien having a clearance kick charged down and then fumbling the subsequent loose ball.

First chance to Cardiff as Cam Winnett's grubber kick through sparks panic in the Leinster defence but Mason Grady knocks on in the 22 as he tries to gather on the run.

If he'd held on, the winger could have been in business there.

Nothing like handbags to get us going!

From the first breakdown, Cardiff get a penalty and a dust-up between both packs follows.

Referee Sam Grove-White asks the captains to cut out the nonsense and there's no further punishments.

Harry Byrne gets us underway and in one sense, the United Rugby Championship is undoubtedly picking up from where it left off tonight.

By that, I mean it's absolutely pouring down in Wales.

If recent meetings between these two is anything to go by, we should not be short of tries tonight.

In fact, their last four clashes have yielded 227 points, but in only one of them did Cardiff triumph and that was a 29-27 thriller at this venue in January 2022.

Indeed, that result signifies the only time the Blue and Blacks have beaten the province at the Arms Park since 2007.

But only once have Corniel van Zyl's side lost at home this season, and despite currently lying fifth in the URC, could actually leapfrog their visitors into second with a bonus point win tonight. There will be no foregone conclusions here.

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

There might be an absence of star names from both line-ups tonight, but Leinster coach Leo Cullen isn't expecting any let-up from the home crowd ahead of a stern test for the champions.

"It's a raucous atmosphere there," said Cullen.

"And they'll be into it, the crowd. Cardiff are going well, the best of all the Welsh teams at the moment. They have a lot of cohesion and they've not lost a ton of players to Wales.

"Cardiff have a lot of consistency over the last couple of seasons. Amongst all the goings on in Wales at the moment, they've probably been the most stable. It'll be a proper test for our guys."

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Given everything going on in Welsh rugby, it's perhaps fitting that Cardiff centre Harri Millard has called for his side to embrace more 'chaos' tonight.

And despite the rain and mist that has plagued the capital in the past few days, he vowed the home side will be looking to attack out wide.

"They (Leinster) are a team that are very good in defence and can get on top of you," he said this week.

"We are looking to use our skill to beat that line speed and get our wingers on the ball to cause chaos. To do that we need quick ball in midfield from the forwards and hopefully that unlocks the edges for our backs."

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Robbie Henshaw starts for Leinster tonight after six weeks out with a knee injury.

The Ireland centre has been forced to sit out the first three rounds of the Six Nations after limping off against Bayonne with a knee injury, but his back to partner Rieko Ioane in midfield.

Leo Cullen's squad provided 14 of the players who helped the boys of Green stun England last Saturday, but have at least had Harry Byrne released back to them to start at outside-half.

It is also a big night for blind-side flanker Max Deegan, who captains the team on his 150th appearance for the province while fellow back-rower Scott Penny will earn his 99th Leinster cap.

Meanwhile French prop Rabah Slimani, who is expected to leave Leinster this summer, is back in the squad for the first time since Christmas.

Leinster: O'Brien; Kenny, Ioane, Henshaw, Moloney, Byrne, Gunne; Cahir, McKee, Sparrow, Spicer, Deeny, Deegan (capt), Penny, Culhane.

Replacements: McCarthy, Usanov, Slimani, Snyman, Ericson, McGrath, Tector, Osborne.

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Selection is never simple during the Six Nations - but Corniel van Zyl will have welcomed Wales releasing three stars back to him tonight.

Centre Ben Thomas, wing Mason Grady and Liam Belcher all start, with the hooker named as captain. Wales Under-20s wing Tom Bowen also features as a replacement.

Another boost for the hosts sees tight-head prop Kieron Assiratti return from the calf injury that scuppered his place in the national squad, while academy back-row forward Evan Rees is set for a senior debut from the bench.

Van Zyl however, is still without the services of wing Josh Adams, flankers Alex Mann and James Botham, and prop Sam Wainwright, who have all remained in the Wales camp to prepare for the trip to Ireland.

Cardiff: Winnett; Beetham, Millard, B Thomas, Grady; Sheedy, A Davies; Barratt, Belcher (capt), Sebastian, McNally, Nott, Lawrence, D Thomas, Basham.

Replacements: D Hughes, Southworth, Assiratti, Thornton, E Rees, Mulder, I Lloyd, Bowen.

Well, hello United Rugby Championship, it has been a while.

In fact, for both Cardiff and Leinster, 27 days have passed since either side kicked a competitive ball in anger.

The Blue and Blacks signed off for the Six Nations break on 31 January with a 21-14 loss in Connaught, the same night that the reigning champions beat Edinburgh 28-20.

Not much has gone on in Welsh rugby since of course. Just a couple of record defeats for the national side, a pulsating game with Scotland, Swansea Council launching a High Court injunction against the WRU and Y11 - and member clubs calling an Emergency General Meeting.

Over in Ireland meanwhile, fans are probably still sobering up from turning Twickenham green.

So, seven days before Wales visit the Aviva, what better way to warm up than the best performing URC sides from both nations sides going head-to-head.

With that in mind, here's the team news...