Oak Park showdown

The match many have been waiting for takes place in Oak Park on Saturday when Ballynahinch, the league leaders, face Carlow the second-placed side in Division Four. Carlow go into the game having beaten Richmond 11-6 in Limerick for the first time in four attempts on Saturday, while the Ulster side missed out on competitive rugby last weekend.

Ballynahinch, who have a perfect record from four games played, failed to find a friendly match last week but will be almost injury-free. Ireland and Ulster's Andy Ward is unlikely to line out for his club due to a knee injury picked up playing for Ulster. But, as the club point out, Ward's absence is not exceptional as they've had him for only a half-an-hour since the campaign began.

Carlow make one change from the side that played last weekend. Damian Ward, the Naas scrumhalf comes in for Leonard Peavoy, who has a hamstring injury. The move allows Matthew Henry move back to the centre, where he is more comfortable.

Old Wesley kept tuned up with a friendly against Clontarf where they were beaten 15-5. The Dublin side face Instonians in Belfast and are injury-free after the Clontarf game.

Old Wesley are delicately poised in third place with Instonians two places behind. The Belfast side also face into their first competitive match in two weeks.

UL-Bohemians, who welcome a break this week, are thankful that wing forward Declan Edwards escaped serious injury in their match against Midleton in Towns Park. The game was held up for 10 minutes for the ambulance to arrive.

It was reported that Edwards had injured his neck but it has now transpired that he was concussed and will be ruled out for the mandatory three weeks.

In division four Queen's meet Trinity in a match that illuminates the varying fortunes of the two universities. Queen's have not won a match to date while Trinity are pressing Barnhall at the top of the table.

The most prolific scoring side in any of the divisions, Barnhall, have accumulated five bonus points from five games while Trinity have none from four games. Despite losing two of those five matches and Trinity having a perfect record from four, the students remain in second place a point behind.