Today Division One

Dolphin v Dungannon John Forde's return to the second row should strengthen Dolphin but despite their relatively healthy haul of five points, their form has been a bit hit-and-miss. Dungannon buckled surprisingly last week, though that may be more to do with Garryowen's upward graph and the visitors, given an edge up front, are possibly due a win.

Old Belvedere v Terenure

The loss of Martin Ridge has to be regarded as a sizeable blow for Belvedere, with still no hint of an opening win. A fullstrength Terenure will play their usual waiting game with Shane Cullen and Paul Hennebry. That Terenure are emerging as the capital's strongest bet for a play-off is as much down to the shortcomings of others (notably Mary's) as their own disappointingly patchy form. It's the kind of game in which Terenure could well trip up but then again it's also the sort of game they really should win.

Garryowen v Old Crescent

Garryowen are at full strength with Barry Everitt and Pat Humphreys coming through fitness tests. Philip Danaher's team are starting to click in units and as a team rather than individually. Granted, Crescent will have been lifted and there is the derby factor (Garryowen won by a point last season) but Garryowen cannot afford any more unexpected stumbles given a more testing February schedule against Shannon, Constitution and St Mary's.

Lansdowne v Shannon

What to make of Lansdowne? Clearly, there's a propensity to chuck in the towel and leak tries like a sieve, especially without their main organiser and tackler, Kurt McQuilkin. In the three games with him there, they conceded four tries, but in the two outings sandwiching those they conceded 14 tries in his absence. Admittedly, they've tended to bounce back and McQuilkin is back today but he's not that good. Shannon to win.

Ballymena v Clontarf

A buoyant Clontarf head north, lying second best of Dublin's half dozen first division clubs. They're adapting nicely and not surprisingly are retaining the post-promotion enthusiasm which supports the hunch that they will survive. Ballymena's defeat last week may have highlighted a lack of tactical flexibility when the pack stops rumbling - as evidenced by the use of just 16 players and four substitutions in six games. But that defeat may also be bad news for Clontarf.

St Mary's v Constitution

Over-hyped and over-rated by us media? Even allowing for Trevor Brennan's costly absence, it doesn't fully explain the St Mary's collapse and they're now in danger of slipping into relegation trouble. Again the tight five don't seem up to the depths of winter. If the Constitution pack win ball, then the on-fire half-back combination of O'Meara and O'Gara - Constitution's one constant thread in an injury disrupted season - could well inflict a fourth defeat on the would-be title contenders.

Young Munster v Blackrock

Loose-head Niall Hartigan (damaged rib) and full-back Peter Boland (leg injury) are replaced by Dessie Clohessy and James Carey, while Stephen Tuohy is preferred to Aidan O'Halloran at out-half. Even so, a softish Clifford Park in January and a Munsters' team on the rebound hardly seems tailor-made for Blackrock's Babes.

Division Two

Galwegians v Buccaneers

An example of Galwegians' back-line strength is that Alan Reddan, who would walk into most club midfields, is accommodated on the wing. An example of Buccaneers' strengths is that Donal Rigney moves to the bench to accommodate the once disaffected and injured Kiwi Mark McConnell for a belated full debut, ironically against his Connacht mates.

Jimmy Duffy and Martin Whelehan return to the respective benches in otherwise fullstrength line-ups. Buccaneers winger Michael Devine plays a week after the cancellation of their game against Instonians due to the tragic death of his 16-year-old brother Cormac. If the Buccaneers tight five establishes a stranglehold, they could pound Galwegians into the ground. But the reasonable forecast and the state of Crowley Park should be more suited to Galwegians' talented backs. If Graham Heaslip and Mick Finlay finally deliver, and the stakes induce a more complete 80 minute effort along with varied, shortened line-outs to solve a problem area, then a close game (they drew last season) is more likely. In which case, Buccaneers' lack of tight games (and a Plan B if Plan A doesn't work?) along with the nous of Elwood and Co could steer Galwegians home.

Greystones v City Of Derry

A rugged Derry pack have the capacity to trouble this young Greystones team much as DLSP did last week but even playing catch up, Ciaran Fitzgerald's team showed some flair. With Reggie Corrigan the workhouse and decoy, and Mark Wyse dictating affairs, they are due a win.

Malone v DLSP

As suggested at the time, back-to-back matches against the Connacht pair probably left DLSP in a false position - as it has done for others - and though they're not the same force away from home, Philip Werahiko has got them organised and trundling again. A third successive win could continue their climb.

Old Wesley v Sunday's Well

Not so long ago this would have been the type of game where a hard-nosed Wesley pack could have gone head-to-head with their Sunday's Well counterparts. You sense that the Well are due to come out of the blocks and that their decent, typically Munster pack will be the better for last week's first game in a month.

Skerries v UCC

There could well be a few away wins in this division today and none would be more surprising if it came here, given that Skerries haven't been toppled at home in three seasons. But UCC are coming off the Connacht double whammy and whereas Skerries have yet to hit 20 this season, the expansively-minded students are real try scorers. Given good weather they could spring a surprise.

Monkstown v Bective Rangers

Bective, similarly to DLSP, came off an imposing sequence of games with an overdue but not too surprising first win last week. Monkstown, though typically dogged in extending the Well, were well beaten by City of Derry the week before and seem to be in a bit of a slump. Bective to win.

Instonians v Wanderers

Wanderers, though lacking serious clout up front, have some genuine talent, especially behind the pack and are clearly starting to gel now, with Eric Olazabal finding his feet. Instonians are another in a bit of a slump. Wanderers to win.