Division One
Garryowen v Blackrock
Blackrock have a dismal record in Limerick. But for all their injury woes, Carey, Assaf and Byrne have been declared fit to play. Apart from Declan Kavanagh at loose-head, this is the same pack which stood toe-to-toe with Young Munster and Buccaneers in tight low-scoring games.
Despite leading the league, four of Garryowen's wins have been by no more than a score. This suggests it may be closer than the handicap betting suggests, but Staunton and other match-winners should get them there.
Last season: Blackrock 8 Garryowen 29. Five-game formguide: Garryowen - WLWLW; Blackrock - LLLWL.
Leading try scorers: Garryowen - McNamara, Keane, Ronan, Varley, Wallace, O'Riordan 2 each; Blackrock - Guinan 4.
Leading points scorers: Garryowen - Keane 92; Blackrock - McGowan 44.
Bookies odds (Paddy Powers): 1/7 Garryowen, 20/1 draw, 4/1 Blackrock. Handicap: 5/6 Garryowen (-15pts), 16/1 draw, 5/6 Blackrock (+15pts).
Referee: D Tyndall (Leinster).
Forecast: Garryowen to win.
Buccaneers v Young Munster
NOT one for the squeamish at Athlone. This will be trench warfare up front with few frills attached, but no less compelling for all that.
Buccaneers are unbeaten at home in four games, may have marginally more strings to their back-row bow, and may well have a place-kicking advantage.
Last season: Didn't meet.
Five-game formguide: Buccaneers - WLWWW; Young Munster - LWDLW.
Leading try scorers: Buccaneers - B Rigney 4; Young Munster - O'Dowd, P Clohessy, Earls, Tobin 2 each.
Leading points scorers: Buccaneers - Allnutt 75; Young Munster - Lynch 29.
Bookies odds: 4/11 Buccaneers, 16/1 draw, 5/2 Young Munster. Handicap: 5/6 Buccaneers (-7pts), 16/1 draw, 5/6 Young Munster (+7pts).
Referee: B Smith (Munster).
Forecast: Buccaneers to win.
Shannon v Galwegians
THE point of no return for both teams. Shannon persist with Colm McMahon in midfield and John Hayes in the second row. Flattered by their winning margin at Clontarf, the champions are still not firing, especially in a generally toothless back-line which will again miss Rhys Ellison and master finisher John Lacey. But given an early score or two, they should prevail.
Last season: Didn't meet.
Five-game formguide: Shannon - WLLLW; Galwegians - LLLWL.
Leading try scorers: Shannon - Lacey 4; Galwegians - Elwood 5.
Leading points scorers: Shannon - Thompson 59; Galwegians - Elwood 71.
Bookies odds: 1/8 Shannon, 20/1 draw, 5/1 Galwegians. Handicap: 5/6 Shannon (-16pts), 16/1 draw, 5/6 Galwegians (+16pts).
Referee: R McDowell (Munster).
Forecast: Shannon to win.
St Mary's v Terenure
SO much about this `'one-off' derby hinges on the mood of individuals on the day. St Mary's look to have a tactical and place-kicking advantage at out-half, yet the prodigal Craig Fitzpatrick could well have a stormer on his return.
Although St Mary's have their international outside three back in harness for the first time this season, you sense Ciaran Clarke's due a try or two. But St Mary's, with the return of the missing six, including their entire back row, get a hesitant vote.
Last season: Terenure 18, St Mary's 12.
Five-game formguide: St Mary's - LWWWL; Terenure - LWDLW.
Leading try scorers: St Mary's - McWeeney, Costello 3 each; Terenure - Dempsey 3.
Leading points scorers: St Mary's - Campion 47; Terenure - Fitzpatrick 37.
Bookies odds: 8/15 St Mary's, 16/1 draw, 6/4 Terenure. Handicap: 5/6 St Mary's (-5pts), 16/1 draw, 5/6 Terenure (+5pts).
Referee: M White (Leinster).
Forecast: St Mary's to win.
Clontarf v Constitution
Perhaps thinking they were safe, the rails have come off Clontarf's season with three expensive defeats. The high quality back-row collision should be where it's at.
Constitution are the division's top try scorers and form team - but for Garryowen's steal it would be six wins in a row.
Last season: Clontarf 3, Cork Constitution 11. Five-game formguide: Clontarf - WWLLL; Constitution - LWWWW.
Leading try scorers: Clontarf - Winchester, Vorster, Moore 2 each; Constitution - O'Brien 4.
Leading points scorers: Clontarf - R Murphy 76; Constitution - O'Gara 86..
Bookies odds: 5/2 Clontarf, 16/1 draw, 1/3 Constitution. Handicap: 5/6 Clontarf (+9pts), 16/1 draw, 5/6 Cork Con (-9pts).
Referee: B Sterling (Munster).
Forecast: Constitution to win.
Lansdowne v Ballymena
A CRUNCH, potential win-or-bust game for both teams which deserves better than the back pitch at Lansdowne Road. Lansdowne have a 100 per cent home record after four matches. Granted, they are still without their talismanic Gordon D'Arcy, but if Lansdowne are being hit hard by the A fixtures, the Ballymena players' representative exploits have hit them, too. e Bester has used more players (32) than anyone else and the obsession with size - again replacing Derek McAleese at out-half with a lock when leading 13-0 against Garryowen - seems to have backfired. They They appear to have self-destructed more than last year, and barring an early buffer, may not have the stomach for it.
Last season: Ballymena 31, Lansdowne 20.
Five-game formguide: Lansdowne - WLWWL; Ballymena - WWLLL.
Leading try scorers: Lansdowne - D'Arcy 3; Ballymena - Penalty tries 2.
Leading points scorers: Lansdowne - Kearns 87; Ballymena - Mason 65. Bookies odds: 4/7 Lansdowne, 16/1 draw, 11/8 Ballymena. Handicap: 5/6 Lansdowne (-5pts), 16/1 draw, 5/6 Ballymena (+5pts).
Referee: J Fleming (Scotland).
Forecast: Lansdowne to win.
Division Two
Bective Rangers v Greystones
YET another of those potential close-scoring Bective affairs seems in the making. Rangers have won all four AIL meetings between the clubs but have wrung the changes in reaction to the six-try defeat at DLSP, and Greystones' need is arguably the greater.
Forecast: Greystones to win.
Dolphin v Dungannon
THE midweek thumping of in-form City of Derry constituted Dungannon's fifth straight win and elevated them to third. Dungannon's scrum should lay the platform again.
Forecast: Dungannon to win.
Portadown v City Of Derry
Their midweek mauling having ended their five-game winning surge up the table, Derry could be vulnerable to a Portadown team who are better placed.
Forecast: Portadown to win.
Ballynahinch V DLSP
Ballynahinch mixed it with sleeves rolled up in their 7-0 defeat by Malone last Monday and this will test DLSP's penchant for dropping silly points, but they must know that they've never had a better promotion chance.
Forecast: DLSP to win.
Wanderers V Old Crescent
WANDERERS have asserted their rights (they're good at that) to the main pitch. They are serious promotion contenders, while Crescent are not.
Forecast: Wanderers to win.
Old Belvedere v Skerries
Belvedere have dropped too many points to be promotion contenders but their form at Anglesea Road has been good. Skerries' could spring a surprise, with more to play for.
Forecast: Belvedere to win.
Malone v Sunday's Well
Despite arresting their alarming slide of six defeats, Sunday's Well may find this tough going against the tough as teak Malone, who have won all four of their home games.
Forecast: Malone to win.
UCC v Old Wesley
WITH three for the chop, this young Wesley side are in serious peril. Now free to concentrate on their promotion push, UCC should extend their unbeaten run to seven games.
Forecast: UCC to win.
