This battle of the fly-halves is turning into a blockbuster.

Northampton win the ball from the Leinster line-out and Fin Smith's clearing kick is inch perfect.

It would have been a wonderful 50:22 but Tommy O'Brien has a foot in touch anyway as he gathers the ball.

Wallop.

RG Snyman takes some stopping but Emmanuel Iyogun is up to the job.

Leinster have the penalty close to the Saints whitewash for an earlier infringement, though.

Having reduced the deficit, Leinster are back on the charge.

Josh van der Flier busts through one tackle but is hauled down by the second.

Saints holding on a bit.

Sam Prendergast is making no mistake from there.

Leinster are on the board.

Jonathan Bradley
BBC Sport NI Senior Journalist

A reminder that Freeman's score is the first points Leinster have conceded in this competition since the first half of their final pool game against Bath back in January.

What a start for the Saints.

Early days, of course, but the visitors look to have come out of the blocks sharper for so many of their number having played last weekend while Leinster rested their stars.

Henry Pollock gives away a needless penalty for a late shove on Josh van der Flier.

Youthful exuberance spilling over, perhaps.

Fin Smith has certainly landed an early blow in his head-to-head with Sam Prendergast.

The Northampton playmaker oozes calm in everything he does.

Josh Kemeny is up quickly to charge down a Sam Prendergast kick.

Saints will need more of that tenacity in defence to unsettle their hosts.

Time for some early kick tennis.

Both sides exchange a couple of kicks before James Lowe is penalised for trying to play the ball at the breakdown.

Leinster have the early penalty which they pop into touch but Saints defend the subsequent maul beautifully.

The blue shirts are unable to retrieve the ball from the melee and Northampton can escape.

Sam Prendergast gets us up and running in Dublin...

Here we go then.

Both sets of players and the officials have made their way to the field.

We are all set to find out which side will book their place in this season's final in Cardiff.

Speaking to Premier Sports, Northampton director of rugby Phil Dowson said: "The experience of playing at Croke Park helped us towards the end of last season. We have lent on that experience and we talked about it in the build-up but it comes down to performance and how we execute today.

"We've been inconsistent in the league but over the last month we have had some consistency [in selection]. Leinster are a very good side but we have some guys playing some very good rugby."

Paul Grayson
Former Northampton and England fly-half on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

Leinster have got enormous strength across the board, a vast amount of international caps and experience.

They've got an underwhelming trophy count in recent history in this tournament for the talent they've got - last three finals with no return - but they've gone up a gear this year.

Speaking to Premier Sports, Leinster coach Leo Cullen said: "We were hanging on in the semi-final last year and we have lost a couple of finals when it comes down to the end.

"You are always looking at how you get certain players on the field at some points and wherever we can get Jordie [Barrett] on at 12 or 15, we know he will add to our team.

"Northampton are a well-coached team and they have some really good individual players. They are very clever in how they attack but they bring intensity too. Defensively, they are dogged to play against."

Courtney Lawes called him a "cocky little" something.

Lewis Ludlam's description, external, external is similarly difficult to print.

Maro Itoje opted for "absolutely annoying" and "a pest".

And they are Henry Pollock's team-mates.

Tommy Freeman, who plays alongside Pollock for England and Northampton, smiles at the inevitable question.

"What's Henry really like? You can probably guess what he is like..."

A lot of people have been asking. Because a lot of people have been watching.

Read more here.

Image source, Getty Images

Let's hear from the Englishman now...

Speaking to BBC Radio Northampton, Fin Smith said: "We would like to think we are better prepared for this game than we were last year.

"In the same breath, Leinster are also a very different side to what they were and it doesn't make the task any easier but I would like to say we won't be overwhelmed by the situation.

"Since then a number of our squad have played in big international games in front of big crowds with loads riding on them, so hopefully all that experience will help us.

"It's obviously a real challenge and we have to give them respect but we are not going to bow down. We will have a crack and see how we go. It should be a great game and one I'm looking forward to.

"We are a side that is capable of beating anyone. We are definitely the underdogs and no-one is giving us a shot but we are one of the few teams that I believe can beat Leinster."

It's a battle of two Test fly-halves in Dublin this evening.

Leinster and Ireland's Sam Prendergast and Northampton and England's Fin Smith face each other, in what is being framed as a potential head-to-head audition for selection on this summer's British and Irish Lions tour to Australia.

Prendergast brings a hint of flair, while Smith has a steely control.

Who will shine in the Irish capital?

Image source, Getty Images