Queensland Reds are back at home after a two-week tour of South Africa, followed by a bye, for the visit of the unpredictable Sunwolves. But the weekend's action kicks off in Christchurch earlier Friday, the seemingly unstoppable Crusaders welcoming the Sharks.
Saturday's action is headlined by two trans-Tasman clashes, firstly in Wellington and then Canberra.
(Note: All times are Australian Eastern Daylight Time)
Jump ahead to a particular game.
Crusaders vs. Sharks | Reds vs. Sunwolves | Hurricanes vs. Rebels | Highlanders vs. Chiefs | Brumbies vs. Blues | Bulls vs. Waratahs | Jaguares vs. Stormers
Friday, May 3
Crusaders vs. Sharks, 5.35 p.m., Christchurch Stadium, Christchurch
Crusaders: Will Jordan, Sevu Reece, Braydon Ennor, Jack Goodhue, George Bridge, Mitch Hunt, Bryn Hall; Kieran Read, Matt Todd (captain), Jordan Taufua, Scott Barrett, Mitchell Dunshea, Michael Alaalatoa, Codie Taylor, Joe Moody. Replacements: Ben Funnell, Isi Tu'ungafasi, Oliver Jager, Luke Romano, Ethan Blackadder, Mitchell Drummond, Brett Cameron, Tim Bateman.
Sharks: Aphelele Fassi, Sbu Nkosi, Lukhanyo Am, Andre Esterhuizen, Makazole Mapimpi, Curwin Bosch, Louis Schreuder, Daniel du Preez, Jean-Luc du Preez, Philip van der Walt, Ruan Botha, Ruben van Heerden, Coenie Oosthuizen, Kerron van Vuuren, Thomas du Toit. Replacements: Akker van der Merwe, Mzamo Majola, John-Hubert Meyer, Hyron Andrews, Jacques Vermeulen, Cameron Wright, Robert du Preez, Marius Louw.
Reds vs. Sunwolves, 7.45 p.m, Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Reds: Hamish Stewart, Jock Campbell, Chris Feauai-Sautia, Samu Kerevi (c), Sefa Naivalu, Bryce Hegarty, Tate McDermott; Scott Higginbotham, Liam Wright, Angus Scott-Young, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Izack Rodda, Taniela Tupou, Alex Mafi, Harry Hoopert. Replacements: Brandon Paenga-Amosa, JP Smith, Ruan Smith, Harry Hockings, Adam Korczyk, Moses Sorovi, Duncan Paia'aua, Seb Wileman.
Sunwolves: Ryohei Yamanaka, Gerhard van den Heever, Jason Emery, Phil Burleigh, Semisi Masirewa, Hayden Parker, Keito Shigeno; Rahboni Warren-Vosayaco, Kara Pryor, Hendrik Tui, Luke Thompson (c), Grant Hattingh, Hiroshi Yamashita, Shota Horie, Masataka Mikami. Replacements: Nathan Vella, Pauliasi Manu, Takuma Asahara, Tom Rowe, Ben Gunter, Jamie Booth, Yu Tamura, Jamie Henry.
Saturday, May 4
Hurricanes vs. Rebels, 3.15 p.m., Westpac Stadium, Wellington
Hurricanes: Jordie Barrett, Wes Goosen, Matt Proctor, Ngani Laumape, Chase Tiatia, Beauden Barrett (c), Richard Judd, Reed Prinsep, Ardie Savea, Vaea Fifita, Isaia Walker-Leawere, James Blackwell, Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, Asafo Aumua, Fraser Armstrong. Replacements: Ricky Riccitelli, Toby Smith, Alex Fidow, Kane Le'aupepe, Liam Mitchell, Du'Plessis Kirifi, Finlay Christie, James Marshall.
Rebels: Dane Haylett-Petty, Jack Maddocks, Tom English, Reece Hodge, Marika Koroibete, Quade Cooper, Will Genia, Isi Naisarani, Rob Leota, Angus Cottrell, Matt Philip, Luke Jones, Jermaine Aisnley, Anaru Rangi, Tetera Faulkner. Replacements: Hugh Roach, Matt Gibbon, Sam Talakai, Reece Haylett-Petty, Pone Fa'amausili, Michael Ruru, Billy Meakes, Campbell Magnay.
Highlanders vs. Chiefs, 5.35 p.m., Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin
Highlanders: Ben Smith, Matt Faddes, Rob Thompson, Teihorangi Walden, Tevita Li, Aaron Smith; Elliot Dixon, James Lentjies, Luke Whitelock, Tom Franklin, Jackson Hemopo, Tyrel Lomax, Liam Coltman, Daniel Lienert-Brown. Replacements: Ash Dixon, Ayden Johnstone, Siate Tokohali, Shannon Frizell, Kayne Hammington, Josh McKay, Patelesio Tomkinson.
Chiefs: Solomon Alaimalo, Sean Wainui, Tumua Manu, Anton Lienert-Brown, Etene Nanai-Seturo, Marty McKenzie, Brad Weber, Tyler Ardron, Lachlan Boshier, Luke Jacobson, Mitchell Brown, Michael Allardice (c), Nepo Laulala, Nathan Harris, Atu Moli. Replacements: Liam Polwart, Ryan Coxon, Angus Ta'avao, Jesse Parete, Taleni Seu, Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, Shaun Stevenson, Bailyn Sullivan.
Brumbies vs. Blues, 7.45 p.m., GIO Stadium, Canberra
Brumbies: Tom Banks, Henry Speight, Len Ikitau, Irae Simone, Toni Pulu, Christian Lealiifano (captain), Joe Powell, Pete Samu, Jahrome Brown, Tom Cusack, Sam Carter, Rory Arnold, Allan Alaalatoa, Folau Faigna'a, James Slipper. Replacements: Conor McInerney, Scott Sio, Leslie Leuluaialii-Makin, Darcy Swain, Murray Douglas, Ryan Lonergan, Tom Wright, Andy Muirhead.
Blues: Melani Nanai, Matt Duffie, TJ Faiane, Ma'a Nonu, Caleb Clarke, Otere Black, Sam Nock; Akira Ioane, Blake Gibson, Tom Robinson, Josh Goodhue, Gerard Cowley-Tuioti, Ofa Tu'ungafasi, Leni Apisai, Alex Hodgman. Replacements: James Parsons, Karl Tu'inukuafe, Marcel Renata, Patrick Tuipolotu, Dalton Papalii, Augustine Pulu, Harry Plummer, Levi Aumua.
Bulls vs. Waratahs, 11.05 p.m., Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
Bulls: Warrick Gelant, Cornal Hendricks, Johnny Kotze, Burger Odendaal, Rosko Specman, Handré Pollard (captain), Ivan van Zyl, Duane Vermeulen, Hanro Liebenberg, Marco van Staden, R.G. Snyman, Jannes Kirsten, Trevor Nyakane, Jaco Visagie, Lizo Gqoboka Replacements: Johan Grobbelaar, Simphiwe Matanzima, Wiehan Herbst, Thembelani Bholi, Paul Schoeman, André Warner, Manie Libbok, Dylan Sage.
Waratahs: Kurtley Beale, Cam Clark, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Karmichael Hunt, Curtis Rona, Bernard Foley, Nick Phipps; Ned Hanigan, Michael Hooper (c), Lachlan Swinton, Rob Simmons, Tom Staniforth, Sekope Kepu, Damien Fitzpatrick, Harry Johnson-Holmes. Replacements: Andrew Tuala, Tom Robertson, Chris Talakai, Hugh Sinclair, Will Miller, Jake Gordon, Lalakai Foketi, Alex Newsome.
Sunday May 5
Jaguares vs. Stormers, 5.40 a.m. Estadio Jose Amalfitani, Buenos Aires
Jaguares:
Stormers:
Bye: Lions