More a sprint than a marathon, it must be unnerving for the dozen teams concerned that the AIB League first division will technically reach its halfway point at about 4.10 this afternoon, ie halfway through this afternoon's sixth round of games.

By full-time therefore, they'll have started the turn for home, but as things stand the leaders are still bunched together, with 10 teams very much in contention for the coveted top four play-off places, and only two clubs trailed off in the fight to avoid the sole relegation play-off place.

Surprisingly, for the 10 in playoff contention the most unnervingly placed of all are holders Cork Constitution. Their three defeats are compounded by their failure to garner so much as one bonus point - the only top flight team not to do so.

Today they entertain third placed Lansdowne who admittedly know they have four teams within a couple of points of them, and also know they're in for a hard day in Cork. "It's definitely our toughest game of the season so far," conceded the visitors' coach Michael Cosgrave.

"They're down, they've their backs to the wall, they've got to win and it's a big game for them. They're playing at home and they rarely lose at home. To be honest, we'll have to put in a huge performance, but that's how it should be."

At the other end of the table the customary frisson in the air whenever St Mary's and Young Munster go toe to toe is given added intrigue in that it is a top-two summit meeting. Victory for either could open a bit of daylight between them and the rest, although more importantly it would take today's winners a significant step closer to the playoffs.

"It's a massive game, the biggest game of the season so far," said the Munsters' coach Packo Fitzgerald. Though it might seem an unusually passive comment given that there will be up to 4,000 supporters making their way to Templeville Road, Fitzgerald adds that "I'd settle for anything from this game, even a draw would be a good result."

Brent Pope could see that subterfuge from a long way off and reckons the game is "even-steven", like so many in the first division. "Teams are so much of a muchness, that we can wallop Ballymena one week and then they go out and give Cork Con a good walloping the next day."

Similarly therefore, the Terenure-Dungannon clash up the road at Lakelands Park looks like another potentially vital eight-pointer with the play-offs in mind, and ditto Shannon v Ballymena at Thomond Park.

Warren Gatland's presence at Thomond Park suggests Dion O'Cuinneagain has a lot to play for, while Eddie O'Sullivan's attendance at Lakelands Park and Donal Lenihan's at Temple Hill adds to the impression that the Irish management's biggest poser remains who will play out-half against Italy next weekend.

Pope has been reasonably encouraged to learn that centres Gareth Gannon and Mark McHugh have been declared fit despite missing training earlier in the week.