Although it has still to be ratified by the clubs and the IRFU, the first tentative steps towards completing a full 15-series first division programme in the AIB League will be made tomorrow week with a couple of midweek matches featuring Blackrock v Shannon and Clontarf v Garryowen. There are also some midweek games pencilled in for early May in an attempt to catch up with the backlog.

Third-placed Shannon will thus have to entertain second-placed Galwegians in a crunch game this Saturday, travel to Stradbrook for their rearranged game next Wednesday teatime, and then return to Dublin on Friday for another crunch game away to the holders St Mary's on Saturday week. Garryowen for their part, play Terenure away this Saturday, Clontarf away next Wednesday and then entertain Buccaneers on Saturday week.

The hectic schedule will no doubt worry Munster's management team and, to compound their fears, the Irish squad then have another full-scale three-day get-together in Belfast, starting on Sunday week, before the Munster squad meet for the `friendly' against the Rest of Ireland at Thomond Park on Good Friday, April 13th, before facing Stade Francais in the Heineken European Cup semi-final in Lille on April 21st.

The Shannon-Galwegians showdown is one of four notable eight-pointers in the race for the play-offs, with leaders Cork Constitution also hosting the holders St Mary's this Saturday. The following Saturday Galwegians are at home to Cork Con while St Mary's host Shannon. Clearly, the holders must win at least one if not both of these encounters to retain interest in this season's play-offs.

At the other end of the table, four of the bottom five also go head to head, with Clontarf at home to Old Crescent and rejuvenated Buccaneers entertaining Belfast Harlequins.