Goliath should be too strong

The weather should be good, there will be 19 internationals on the pitch, the World Cup is just around the corner, the surface looks like a snooker table, they've each had a game under their belts, Dave McHugh is widely considered the best referee around, and Ulster are making their first visit to Dublin since they won the European Cup seven months ago. Gulp. Okay, so it's August and unseasonal and all that, but big deal.

In a provincial and team context, and in an individual and international context, there's rarely been so much to play for or so much to entice the fans. The game is given added importance by the strong possibility of Ulster winning the match and moving nine or 10 points clear of their hosts with only two rounds of the Guinness Interprovincials completed and thereby taking a giant stride towards qualifying for next season's European Cup (unless one of the three Irish participants makes the semi-finals this year, only two will qualify for next season's event).

On form, Ulster must be fancied to do so. They come to Donnybrook fresh from a six try, 50point haul away to Connacht which by all accounts could have been 70 or 80. Just to show their mettle, Harry Williams has made one change, and in comes the Irish Lion Eric Miller for his first start since an ankle operation last season. As Miller is flanked by Dion O'Cuinneagain (Donnybrook and Leinster being afforded a first glimpse of another player they missed out on) and Andy Ward, Ulster could conceivably be fielding the first-choice Irish World Cup back row.

Elsewhere, Reggie Corrigan and Justin Fitzpatrick are clamouring to gain an edge in the loosehead pecking order, and likewise the respective rehabilitated right-wingers, Denis Hickie and James Topping. However, all over the pitch, even those not obviously in the World Cup reckoning such as Barry Everitt, Gary Longwell and Tyrone Howe, will relish a chance to up their reputations. If, as it has been stated, the returning influx of prodigal internationals is to be reflected in higher standards, then you'd hope this match would be the proof of the pudding. It's almost surprising to think that Leinster nearly have as many internationals, nine, as Ulster's 10, if only half as many international contracts.

How, for example, Girvan Dempsey and Trevor Brennan, with 13 caps between them and squad members of 10 months and over a year respectively, don't have international contracts is puzzling. Nonetheless, whereas Leinster's tyros boast just 73 caps, Ulster's hardy soldiers possess 164 - an indication of the greater experience in their ranks. They also look to be further down the road collectively and thus more cohesive.

Ulster's preparations seem to have been better too, and while the O'Cuinneagain-Miller-Ward axis is a relatively new combo for Ulster, they've twice teamed up for Ireland before. With David Humphreys now running the show, Ulster look to have a big edge in the key middle five area where the exchanges are generally directed. Further out, there's no doubt Leinster will look again to Brian O'Driscoll's class and the speed of Hickie and Dempsey. Rather than engage Ulster's pacey all-international, all-singing, all-dancing back row in a fast, loose contest, Leinster might be better off launching the likes of Costello, Brennan and Corrigan at Ulster around the fringes, especially as Ulster have adopted the aggressive four-up defence which strangled Connacht a week ago.

Buoyed by a big, partisan home crowd, and perhaps an early score, it wouldn't be that surprising if Leinster were still in touch with a quarter to go. If this is the case the crowd could become an important factor.

And if there is a good time to be playing Ulster, then perhaps coming off a big opening win is it: remember how Ulster hosed Leinster in last season's opener in Dublin, went 18-0 up against Connacht the following week, and promptly lost.

As Leinster also turned opening week form on its head a year ago, by going to Dooradoyle and deservedly beating Munster, it shows how potentially unreliable last week's form guide can be. Yet, between the jigs and the reels, Ulster look to have greater experience and cohesion.