Kelly the biggest doubt

A number of knocks following Munster's bruising 17-23 win over Leinster last weekend has given coach Alan Gaffney the usual headache for his final match in charge before heading back to Australia to join his national team.

John Kelly remains the most doubtful starter for Saturday's Celtic Cup final against Llanelli Scarlets, the stitches under his eye and his swollen nose possibly too much to risk after just a week's recovery. Peter Stringer and Shaun Payne did not train on Tuesday but after today's session Gaffney should know what the make-up of his side is going to be.

Gaffney faces a Scarlets team eager for a trophy and already their director of rugby Gareth Jenkins has said his side must be aware of Munster's successful brand of 10-man rugby.

"Munster play limited rugby particularly well," he said. "They haven't got the stars of a side like Leinster, but there's a fantastic efficiency to their game and they're always 150 per cent up for you.

"There's not a better supported team in Europe than Munster, even if it's not on their home ground. But we've had a disappointing year and this is a chance of silverware to make up for it to some extent."

Lions scrumhalf Dwayne Peel has recovered from a shoulder injury and will partner rookie outhalf Ceiron Thomas. The 21-year-old's confidence has been boosted after being given a Llanelli development contract for next season and he keeps Gareth Bowen on the bench. Gaffney may pick a side after training today but is more likely to do so tomorrow.

Connacht coach Michael Bradley has signed four young players who have come through after the first year of the province's academy. Props Michael Diffley and Ronan Loughney, hooker Joe Merrigan and fullback-cum-winger Danny Riordan have been awarded development contracts with the side for next season.

Diffley, Merrigan, who was on the bench for the second leg of the European Challenge Cup semi-final away to Sale Sharks, and Riordan are current Irish under-21 internationals, while Loughney has played for the Irish youths.

"It is a big boost given that the academy is only in its first season," said Connacht chief executive Gerry Kelly. "It is ironic that at a time when frontrow players are supposed to be scarce, that three of the four contracts have gone to players in these positions."

A number of new contracts have also been handed out. Christian Short has been rewarded for good performances with a new two-year deal, while centre James Downey has turned down an approach from Narbonne to take up a full-time contract. Chris Keane is also signed up again. The 27-year-old scrumhalf began the season as fourth choice at nine but worked his way to the starting line-up. He will have battle it out next season with former Irish international Tom Tierney and Conor O'Loughlin, who has recovered from a long-term injury.

South African-born lock Pieter Myburgh has been cut loose by the province as has Clontarf's Mike Walls, who has been with the province for the past three seasons.

The last of the six English places for next year's Heineken European Cup will be settled at Twickenham on Saturday when Gloucester and Saracens meet in the English wildcard final, while the number one and two English rankings will be determined later in the afternoon when Leicester Tigers and London Wasps face each other in the English Premiership final at 3.30pm.

Four French clubs - Biarritz Olympique, Bourgoin, Stade Francais and Toulouse are safely through but the remaining three places and all the rankings are still up for grabs.

The Italian qualifiers will be determined on the weekend of May 21st-22nd following their championship semi-finals. The 24th place in the tournament will be settled on May 29th when Cardiff Blues travel to meet the third placed Italian team in the one-off decider that Connacht had wanted to play.

EuropeanCup

(Confirmed qualifiers)

ENGLAND: Leicester Tigers, London Wasps, Sale Sharks, Bath Rugby, Leeds Tykes.

FRANCE: Biarritz Olympique, Bourgoin, Stade Francais Paris, Toulouse.

IRELAND: Munster, Leinster, Ulster.

SCOTLAND: Edinburgh Rugby, Glasgow Rugby.

WALES: Neath-Swansea-Ospreys, Newport-Gwent Dragons, Llanelli Scarlets.