SHANNON, the defending champions, who lead the first division in the Insurance Corporation All-Ireland League by three points, yesterday named an unchanged side for the visit to Dungannon on Saturday.

For those clubs in immediate pursuit of the leaders and still retaining some hope, however tenuous, that Shannon will slip up, it is a case of decision deferred in relation to the composition of their teams because of injuries. The same problem has afflicted several of the teams in the relegation zone and whose need for points has now taken on an urgent dimension with just three series of matches to be played.

Dungannon eased their relegation worries by winning last week against Instonians, and while they will field an unchanged back line, they are as yet unable to finalise the back five. They will definitely be without flanker Ian Girvan, who is not available. There is also some doubt about flanker Jim Patterson.

St Mary's College, now the nearest challengers to Shannon, will not finalise their back line until later in the week for the visit to Blackrock College. Centres Ray McIlreavy and Gareth Gannon are both under treatment for injury, but the hope is Denis Hickie will be available after being in Hong Kong with the Ireland sevens. They will field the same half backs and pack that played against Old Belvedere last Saturday.

Blackrock, now six points adrift of Shannon and out of contention, have Emmett Farrell, Paul O'Brien, Shane Byrne and Hubie Kos available after injury. Pat Hold en retains his place in the second row but Mick O'Neill is omitted to make way for the return of Kos. Declan Kavanagh takes over at loose head prop from Malcolm Cuffe.

Garryowen take on Young Munster and await a fitness report on Ben Cronin, another sevens member, before finalising their pack. Young Munster will be unchanged from the side that beat Old Crescent last Saturday.

Old Wesley, locked in a struggle against relegation, have a long injury list and cannot finalise their side to meet Ballymena until later in the week. Robert Casey, Adrian Hawe, Matt King, John Quirke, Robbie Love and Chris Pim are all under treatment and prop John Feehan is ruled out for the rest of the season.

Ballymena will be without centre Sheldon Coulter, who is on holidays. His place goes to Michael Boyd. They will decide later in the week between Gary Longwell, who has been injured and did not play last week, and Colin Wallace for a second row berth.

Terenure College make two changes in their side to meet Cork Constitution. Serum-half Niall Hogan has gone to London Irish and Derek Hegarty takes over the position. Hooker and captain James Blaney, who missed the match last week against Shannon because of influenza, is fit and resumes in place of Cormac Egan. Constitution will probably announce their side today.

Old Crescent will field the same back line and front row that played against Young Munster for the home match against Instonians. They add Len Dinneen and Dara Kirby, both unavailable last week, to the back five who played against Young Munster and will finalise that area later in the week. Kirby was injured and Dinneen in Hong Kong. Instonians make one change in their team from the side that lost to Dungannon. Hooker and captain Andy Adair returns.

Old Belvedere and Lansdowne who meet at Anglesea Road, have both had to defer selection. Flanker Mick Carswell is the latest Old Belvedere casualty and is out for the rest of the season because of a hand injury.

Lansdowne will again be without Eric Elwood and Kurt McQuilkin