While three of the top sides take a rest, the rest are left to duke it out for a chance to move up the ladder.
Round 5 is headlined by a trans-Tasman clash between the Highlanders-Rebels, while the Reds play host to the high-flying Sharks.
(Note: All times are Australian Eastern Daylight Time)
Jump ahead to a particular game.
Highlanders vs. Rebels | Waratahs vs. Lions | Hurricanes vs. Sunwolves | Reds vs. Sharks | Stormers vs. Blues | Bulls vs. Jaguares
Friday, February 28
Highlanders vs. Rebels, 5:05 PM Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin
Highlanders: Michael Collins, Josh McKay, Rob Thompson, Josh Ioane, Jona Nareki, Mitch Hunt, Aaron Smith, Marino Mikaele Tu'u, James Lentjes, Teariki Ben-Nicholas, Jack Whetton, Jesse Parete, Siate Tokolahi, Ash Dixon, Daniel Lienert-Brown. Replacements: Liam Coltman, Ayden Johsntone, Jeff Thwaites, Manaaki Selby-Rickit, Dillon Hunt, Kayne Hammington, Tei Walden, Scott Gregory.
Rebels: Dane Haylett-Petty (captain), Andrew Kellaway, Tom English, Billy Meakes, Marika Koroibete, Matt Toomua, Ryan Louwrens, Isi Naisarani, Richard Hardwick, Angus Cottrell, Matt Philip, Gideon Koegelenberg, Jermaine Ainsley, Anaru Rangi, Matt Gibbon. Replacements: Jordan Uelese, Cameron Orr, Cabous Eloff, Ross Haylett-Petty, Rob Leota, Frank Lomani, Michael Wells, Andrew Deegan.
Waratahs vs. Lions, 7:15 PM Bankwest Stadium, Sydney
Waratahs: Kurtley Beale, Mark Nawaqanitawase, Alex Newsome, Karmichael Hunt, Jack Maddocks, Will Harrison, Jake Gordon, Jack Dempsey, Michael Hooper, Lachlan Swinton, Rob Simmons (captain), Tom Staniforth, Harry Johnson-Holmes, Robbie Abel, Angus Bell. Replacements: Damien Fitzpatrick, Tom Robertson, Tetera Faulkner, Jed Holloway, Ryan McCauley, Mitch Short, Lalakai Foketi, James Ramm.
Lions: Andries Coetzee, Tyrone Green, Manuel Rass, Daniel Kriel, Jamba Ulenga, Elton Jantjies (captain), Andre Warner, Len Massyn, Vincent Tshituka, Marnus Schoeman, Marvin Orie, Ruben Schoeman, Carlu Sadie, Jan-Henning Campher, Dylan Smith Replacements: Pieter Jansen, Sithembiso Sithole, Frans Van Wyk, Willem Alberts, Wilhelm van der Sluys, Hacjivah Dayimani, Morne van den Berg, Wandisile Simelane
Saturday, February 29
Hurricanes vs. Sunwolves, 2:45 PM McLean Park, Napier
Hurricanes: Chase Tiatia, Kobus Van Wyk, Vince Aso, Ngani Laumape, Ben Lam, Fletcher Smith, TJ Perenara, Gareth Evans, Du'Plessis Kirifi, Vaea Fifita, Scott Scrafton, James Blackwell, Tyrel Lomax, Asafo Aumua, Xavier Numia. Replacements: Ricky Riccitelli, Ben May, Alex Fidow, Isaia Walker-Leawere, Devan Flanders, Jonathan Tauateine, James Marshall, Peter Umaga-Jensen.
Sunwolves: Alex Horan, Siosaia Fifita, Keisuke Moriya, Shogo Nakano, James Dargaville, Jumpei Ogura, Rudy Paige, Jake Schatz, Mitch Jacobson, Tevita Tupou, Micahel Stolberg, Kotaro Yatabe, Hencus van Wyk, Jaba Bregvadze, Jarred Adams. Replacements: Efitusi Maafu, Nic Mayhew, Conrad van Vuuren, Justin Downey, Shunsuke Nunomaki, Naoto Saito, JJ Englebrecht, Tatalatasi Tasi.
Reds vs. Sharks, 7:15 PM Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Reds: Jock Campbell, Chris Feauai-Sautia, Hunter Paisami, Hamish Stewart, Henry Speight, James O'Connor, Tate McDermott, Harry Wilson, Angus Scott-Young, Harry Hockings, Izack Rodda, Taniela Tupou, Alex Mafi, JP Smith. Replacements: Ed Craig, Harry Hoopert, Josh Nasser, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Fraser McReight, Scott Malolua, Isaac Lucas, Filipo Daugunu.
Sharks: Aphelele Fassi, Madosh Tambwe, Lukhanyo Am, Andre Esterhuizen, Lwazi Mvovo, Curwin Bosch, Louis Schreuder, Sikhumbuzo Notshe, Henco Venter, Dylan Richardson, Hyron Andrews, Ruben van Heerden, Thomas du Toit, Kerron van Vuuren, Ox Nche. Replacements: Craig Burden, Juan Schoeman, John-Hubert Meyer, Le Roux Roets, Phepsi Buthelezi, Sanele Nohamba, Marius Louw, Jeremy Ward.
Sunday, March 1
Stormers vs. Blues, 12:05 AM DHL Newlands, Cape Town
Stormers: Dillyn Leyds, Sergeal Petersen, Ruhan Nel, Jamie Roberts, Seabelo Senatla, Damian Willemse, Herschel Jantjies, Juarno Augustus, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Jaco Coetzee, JD Schickerling, Chris van Zyl, Wilco Louw, Scarra Ntubeni, Steven Kitshoff. Replacements: Chad Solomon, Kwezo Blose, Frans Malherbe, Salman Moerat, Cobus Wiese, Ernst van Rhyn, Godlen Masimla, Jean-Luc du Plessis.
Blues: Stephen Perofeta, Joe Marchant, Rieko Ioane, TJ Faiane, Mark Telea, Otere Black, Sam Nock, Hoskins Sotutu, Dalton Papalii, Tom Robinson, Jacob Pierce, Patrick Tuipulotu, Sione Mafileo, Kurt Eklund, Karl Tu'inukuafe. Replacements: Luteru Tolai, Marcel Renata, Ofa Tuungafasi, Aaron Carroll, Blake Gibson, Jonathan Ruru, Harry Plummer, Matt Duffie.
Bulls vs. Jaguares, 2:15 AM Loftus Versfeld, Pretori
Bulls: Warrick Gelant, Cornal Hendricks, Nafi Tuitavake, Johnny Kotze, Rosko Specman, Morne Steyn, Embrose Papier, Jeandre Rudolph, Josh Strauss, Marco van Staden, Juandre Kruger, Andries Ferreira, Trevor Nyakane, Jaco Visagie, Lizo Gqoboka. Replacements: Corniel Els, Gerhard Steenkamp, Wiehahn Herbst, Ruan Nortje, Ruan Steenkamp, Ivan van Zyl, Manie Libbok, Divan Rossouw.
Jaguares: Santiago Carreras, Sebastian Cancelliere, Matias Moroni, Jeronimo de la Fuente, Emiliano Boffelli, Joaquin Diaz Bonilla, Gonzalo Bertranou, Rodrigo Bruni, Tomas Lezana, Francisco Gorrissen, Marcos Kremer, Guido Petti, Joel Sclavi, Julian Montoya, Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro. Replacements: Santiago Socino, Mayco Viyas, Santiago Medrano, Lucas Paulos, Bautista Pedemonte, Domingo Miotti, Juan Cruz Mallia, Santiago Chocobares.
BYE: Crusaders, Brumbies, Chiefs