What initially seemed a strange decision from Sam Prendergast to launch the ball high into the rainy Dublin sky near the 22 pays off.

Both Adam Hastings and Josh McKay tried to claim it but neither could and it is a scrum down blue ball on the 22.

Glasgow survive as James Ryan falls foul of the whistle for a neck roll at the ruck.

Both captains are being spoken to by Andrea Piardi as tensions are simmering close to the surface again.

That's win or go home rugby for you!

Image source, Getty Images

The two scrum halves collide as George Horne is penalised for playing Jamison Gibson-Park off the ball.

Another excellent Sam Prendergast nudge into the corner has Leinster on the front foot again

Leinster think they have a try but they are also pinged for crossing. James Lowe is the guilty party and the takes his frustrations out on Scott Cummings leading to some handbags.

Leinster overturn a lineout inside their own 22. However, the resulting pass from Jamison Gibson-Park is uncharacteristically loose and puts James Lowe under pressure.

Leinster survive and clear and the Glasgow captain Kyle Steyn is penalised for crossing in the midfield.

Prendergast into the corner...

Questions have been asked about Sam Prendergast's defence and Tom Jordan shrugged him off like a rag doll there.

However, he offloads to Kyle Rowe and Leinster hold him up off the ground to earn a scrum on their own 22.

You can actually hear some of the hits going in on the referee's mic. All I can say if I took some of those hits, I think I would be asking for the sub to come on!

Andy Burke
BBC Sport Scotland at Aviva Stadium, Dublin

What a start to this match!

After an ominously physical start from Leinster, Glasgow produce a try from the heavens.

Sione Tuipulotu demonstrating his fantastic passing ability to create that opening.

Warriors needed that.

Chris Paterson
Former Scotland international on BBC Radio Scotland

It is brutality. It is just power up front for Leinster. A fairly physical start from the home side.

Leinster immediately win a penalty and knock it into the corner. Here comes the maul...

Colin Gregor
Former Glasgow Warriors back on BBC Radio Scotland

As much as I would like to back Glasgow, I think Leinster have just enough to see them through.

The hosts get us underway on Andrea Piardi's whistle! They kicking right to left in all blue while Glasgow receive wearing all black.

The two teams enter the field to much fanfare. However, it is a rather sparsely-populated Aviva Stadium with plenty of green seats visible.

Will that work in the visitors' favour?

Glasgow Warriors head coach Franco Smith believes his side have put their recent heavy European defeat against Leinster behind them as they return to Dublin to face the favourites in the URC semi-finals on Saturday.

Warriors were whitewashed 52-0 in their Champions Cup quarter-final but Smith has consigned that to history and says his side are peaking at the right time, as planned, despite being underdogs.

"I think that's something of the past," he said. "Different competition. We've learned from it and we've moved on.

"We've planned from the first day of pre-season how we want to look and how you want to shape up in the final [games].

"We've handled the season well. We've managed to get some of our players back from injury and we allowed them back into the environment at the right time and hopefully we're in a good place, now that we're going to the semi."

Smith knows his reigning champions face a stiff test to reach back-to-back finals, citing the players' mindset as key.

"It's everything and I think every game is about the mindset," he said.

"The difficulty is to maintain that for 39 weeks in the year. The mindset and approach and attitude in a final game is obviously the main ingredient.

"We've got to be on top of our game. They've got a world-class team, they've proven it in the Test match arena, they've proven it in this competition. It's a class outfit.

"It's going to be a tough challenge. The only way we're going to get better and keep on growing and progressing is if we challenge ourselves to be the best version of ourselves."

For much of the Leinster squad, the past month has stirred a broad spectrum of emotions.

There was the agony of an Investec Champions Cup semi-final loss at home to Northampton, denying the province a shot at redemption after a hat-trick of final defeats in the previous three seasons.

Just a few days later, the bulk of the squad were confronted with the whirlwind that is British and Irish Lions squad announcement day.

For most of them, it was good news, but for those who missed out it was another bitter pill so soon after their Champions Cup demise.

Jacques Nienaber - under whom the team's defence has thrived - does not sense depleted levels of energy or focus within the group.

"No, not at all," said the 52-year-old South African.

"We're cracking on. It's a privilege for any team to be involved in the knock-out stages.

"It's a privilege for us definitely to be testing ourselves against Glasgow this weekend, the reigning champions, who obviously understand how to play knock-out games if you look at what they did last year. It's a privilege to test ourselves against a quality side like that."

Former European Cup winner with Leinster Bernard Jackman spoke on BBC's Scotland Rugby Podcast this week and hinted that there is a bit of 'performance anxiety' for the boys in blue.

You can read the best bits of Jackman's comments here

Andy Burke
BBC Sport Scotland at Aviva Stadium, Dublin

If Glasgow are to advance to a second successive URC final they'll have to do something no Scottish side - club or international - has ever done - win at the Aviva Stadium.

This place has been a graveyard for Scottish sides down the years, not least when Leinster crushed Warriors 52-0 here in the Champions Cup quarter-final eight weeks ago.

A shadow Glasgow side put up a much sterner test when going down 13-5 in the URC three weeks ago, and after a stirring showing in dispatching the Stormers in the quarter-finals last week, there's a sense that Warriors are starting to put it together at the right time once again.

Leinster on the other hand are having a bit of a wobble after their shock Champions Cup semi-final defeat to Northampton, and while they undoubtedly remain strong favourites, this match is not the mismatch it may have looked a few short weeks ago.

Ireland full-back Hugo Keenan will miss today's game in what is a blow to Leo Cullen's men.

Keenan, who was named in the British and Irish Lions squad last month, is not included in Leo Cullen's matchday squad for the Aviva Stadium contest with the holders after picking up a calf injury.

The 28-year-old, who produced a player-of-the-match display in last week's quarter-final win over Scarlets, is replaced by Jimmy O'Brien in the 15 shirt.

With Jimmy O'Brien switching to full-back, Tommy O'Brien replaces his him on the right wing after missing the Scarlets game through injury.

Dan Sheehan returns at hooker, with Ronan Kelleher dropping to the bench, while Scott Penny replaces the injured Josh van der Flier at open-side flanker.

In addition to Van der Flier, Garry Ringrose and Tadhg Furlong are also unavailable.

Glasgow make two changes from their quarter-final win over the Stormers, with Fin Richardson replacing Murphy Walker at tight-head prop.

Adam Hastings starts at fly-half with Tom Jordan moving to inside centre and Stafford McDowall dropping to the bench.

Glasgow are without Huw Jones, Matt Fagerson, Jack Dempsey and Zander Fagerson.

Leinster: Jimmy O'Brien; Tommy O'Brien, Jamie Osborne, Jordie Barrett, James Lowe; Sam Prendergast, Jamison Gibson-Park; Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan, Thomas Clarkson, Joe McCarthy, James Ryan, Ryan Baird, Scott Penny, Jack Conan (capt)

Replacements: Ronan Kelleher, Jack Boyle, Rabah Slimani, RG Snyman, Max Deegan, Luke McGrath, Ross Byrne, Ciaran Frawley

Glasgow: Josh McKay; Kyle Steyn (capt), Sione Tuipulotu, Tom Jordan, Kyle Rowe; Adam Hastings, George Horne; Jamie Bhatti, George Hiddleston, Fin Richardson, Alex Samuel, Scott Cummings, Euan Ferrie, Rory Darge, Henco Venter

Replacements: Johnny Matthews, Rory Sutherland, Sam Talakai, Max Williamson, Jack Mann, Macenzzie Duncan, Stafford McDowall, Jamie Dobie

Referee: Andrea Piardi (Italy​​)