Leinster will put their 100 per cent record in the PRO12 semi-finals on the line when they face neighbours Ulster at a sold-out RDS, live on Sky Sports 3 HD. Fridays provincial derby will be Leinsters seventh semi-final appearance. They have won the previous six, while Ulster have won only once at the RDS in 12 attempts.However, Les Kisss side head to the Irish capital on the back of four successive victories, including a 30-6 drubbing of Leinster in Belfast on April 30. Four points separated the teams in the final PRO12 table and a close contest is predicted on Friday. Who will prevail? Lets look at some of the key battles which could decide this derby.Johnny Sexton v Paddy Jackson Paddy Jackson won his duel with Johnny Sexton in Belfast last month Jackson has lived in Sextons shadow at international level but got the better of his fellow fly-half during their recent encounter in Belfast, and broke away for a late interception try.The Ulsterman has raised his game another notch this season, bringing the best out of a talented backline and shouldering some of the responsibility normally placed on Ruan Pienaars shoulders. Another impressive showing in Dublin should see Jackson leapfrog Ian Madigan in the fly-half pecking order for Irelands tour of South Africa, but Sexton will be out to prove a point.The 30-year-old has forged a good understanding with Ben Teo and continues to use the wrap-around to good effect. Leinster rely heavily on Sexton to unlock opposition defences and Ulster will be in his face all night, although that is familiar territory for the seasoned international.Sexton was highly critical of Leinsters performance in Belfast last month and will be desperate to exact revenge on Friday.Ben Teo v Stuart McCloskey Ben Teo is off to Worcester this summer and international rugby with England Teo plays his final game on Irish soil for Leinster ahead of his big-money move to Worcester and he could not have asked for a tougher assignment.McCloskeys form this season earned him an Ireland debut at Twickenham during the Six Nations and he looks to have nailed down the No 12 jersey in a highly competitive Ulster backline. Stuart McCloskey made his Ireland debut during the Six Nations Both players are excellent gain-line options, McCloskey averaging 4.18 metres per carry in the PRO12, while Teo has the ability to terrorise opposition defences with his running lines and offloading ability.While Sam Burgess flopped in rugby union, fellow league convert Teo has thrived in the 15-man code. With England reportedly set to fast-track him into their squad, he and McCloskey could be facing off at international level in the near future.Isa Nacewa v Jared Payne Jared Payne was among the tryscorers when Ulster defeated Leinster in Belfast last month Nacewa moves to full-back in place of the injured Rob Kearney and offers a different attacking threat to the Irishman at 15.The Leinster skipper has enjoyed a highly impressive comeback season and Ulster know any loose kicks will be punished by the 33-year-old. Jared Payne has been making up for lost time since his return from injury Paynes defensive attributes sees him start at outside centre for Ireland but he has been in scintillating form at full-back for Ulster since his return from the foot injury that ended his World Cup. He has scored four tries in as many PRO12 games, including one against Leinster last month.Both players are fantastic counter-attackers who rarely waste possession. Payne is excellent in the air while Nacewa has a quality kicking game; they will bring out the best in the players around them.Richardt Strauss v Rory BestRory Best took over the Ireland captaincy from Paul OConnell in this years Six Nations, but rather than being buoyed by the honour, the responsibility appeared to weigh the 33-year-old down.This weekend he has a chance for redemption as he goes head to head against the man who wants his Ireland jersey, Richardt Strauss. Rory Best of Ulster Strauss has played slightly more PRO12 than Best this season - less than an hour of playing time separates them - and their lineout statistics are identical, with both boasting an 87% success rate.The statistics that separate them is at the breakdown, where Strauss 11 turnovers outweighs Best with five, and tackles, with Strauss putting in 64 hits to Bests 43. Richardt Strauss Aside from those numbers, the hookers have been making a practically even contribution on the field, but which one will make the greater impact on the day?The Ireland skipper is in no immediate threat of losing his spot in the team, but Strauss will view Fridays game as an opportunity to prove his worth to Joe Schmidt and his coaching staff who will no doubt be watching on. Also See: Sky Live: Leinster v Ulster PRO12 semi-finals on Sky Fixtures and results Rugby Union on Sky Wholesale Pelicans Jerseys . 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Instead of dwelling on the negative, Oates focused on what was good about the clubs recent play. It worked. CHICAGO -- Joe Maddon was driving his RV through Virginia two years ago when he got the news. Andrew Friedman was leaving Tampa Bay to take over the Los Angeles Dodgers.One pivotal moment on the road to this years NL Championship Series.A month after Friedmans departure, Maddon was introduced as the 54th manager of the lowly Chicago Cubs. Friedman hired general manager Farhan Zaidi in his first big move in Los Angeles, and the Dodgers continued their winning ways.Now Maddon and Friedman are together again, with a spot in the World Series on the line. The Cubs and Dodgers play Game 1 of the NLCS on Saturday night at Wrigley Field.We stay in touch all the time, Maddon said before his team worked out on Friday. I know his family really well. His moms a trip. I really enjoy the whole group. So Andrew and I are very close.Friedmans move to sunny LA triggered an opt-out clause in Maddons contract, and Chicago jumped on the opportunity to put the Pennsylvania native in its dugout. The decision has worked out quite well so far, with the Cubs returning to the NLCS for the second straight year for the first time.It turns out there are lots of friends on each side of this years series.Dodgers manager Dave Roberts contributed a famous steal to Bostons run to the World Series title in 2004, stopping an 86-year drought. Cubs president of baseball operations Theo Epstein and general manager Jed Hoyer worked for the Red Sox at the time, and they acquired Roberts in a trade with Los Angeles on July 31 that year.I kind of put Theo and Jed together and theyre good friends of mine, Roberts said, and theres a lot of, a little bit of banter, but obviously Ive got the ultimate respect for those guys and they really helped me get a ring.Roberts and the Dodgers arrived in Chicago on Friday, fresh off a dramatic 4-3 victory at Washington in Game 5 of their NL Division Series. The NL West champions used six pitchers in the series-clinching win, including closer Kenley Jansen for a career-high 51 pitches and ace Clayton Kershaw for the final two outs.The taxing finale in Washington left Roberts few options for Game 1 of the NLCS, and he said Kenta Maeda will get the ball for the opener against the Cubs. Roberts wasnt ready to announce his rotation for the rest of the series, but hinted Kershaw likely would go in Game 2 on Sunday night.Physically, he feels great, Roberts said before the Dodgers workkout.dddddddddddd. Hes going to go out there and get a lift in and throw and run and do what he does. So, obviously, were not prepared to make that decision yet, but hes tracking to start when we all think.Jansen thinks he will be ready for the NLCS opener, and Kershaw said he felt fine. The three-time NL Cy Young Award winner also said he isnt sure when he will make his next start.I havent heard a thing, he said.The 28-year-old Maeda went 16-11 with a 3.48 ERA in his first season in the majors. But the Japanese right-hander has lost three straight starts, lasting just three innings in his first career playoff appearance Monday against Washington.Weve been relying a lot on our relief pitchers to take the load, so I want to be able to -- Im really just focused on throwing quality innings as long as I can, Maeda said through a translator. And as long as I keep throwing quality innings, then I would be able to throw longer and deeper into the game.The Cubs have been resting since they used a four-run ninth to finish off San Francisco with a 6-5 victory in Game 4 on Tuesday night. Jon Lester is lined up to start Game 1, followed by Kyle Hendricks, Jake Arrieta and John Lackey in a repeat of the Division Series.Lester pitched 15 innings of one-run ball in two starts against Los Angeles this year, and the Dodgers hit .213 against lefty pitching overall.Hes good. And right now hes at the top of his game, Maddon said. I mean, from what Ive seen, hes had a couple hiccups, which everybody does. But, man, hes been pretty much right on the last couple months, including the first game of the playoffs for him.There was some question about Hendricks health after he had a comebacker go off his right forearm in Game 2 against the Giants. But the right-hander, who had a major league-best 2.13 ERA this year, felt fine after a bullpen session on Thursday, allowing the Cubs to finalize their rotation.Our staff has been really, really good this year, and I think that, really, if you put all of our names in a hat and pulled one out, I dont think you could go wrong, Lester said. So, its a huge honor, especially for an organization like this, to get the ball again and try to go out and give us a good start.---Jay Cohen can be reached at http://www.twitter.com/jcohenap Cheap Jerseys 2018 Jerseys Wholesale Wholesale Jerseys 2019 NFL Jerseys From China Wholesale NFL Jerseys Cheap Jerseys Free Shipping Cheap Jerseys From China ' ' '