Team news

Munster

Declan Kidney has injury concerns ahead of announcing his side today for Friday's third meeting of the season with Leinster in Cork. Mike Mullins and Jason Holland have been joined on the injury list by Anthony Horgan (wrist), Mick O'Driscoll (back) and Tom Tierney (groin).

Mullins has already been ruled out of the Leinster game and Holland is considered very doubtful after sustaining a leg injury in Midleton's AIL game with Greystones on December 16th. While Kidney is more hopeful that Horgan, who injured a wrist in Cork Constitution's win over Lansdowne last Saturday, will be able to take some part on Friday, O'Driscoll, who was forced to pull out of the same match, is unlikely to. Tierney, meanwhile, is still undergoing treatment for a groin strain which has sidelined him since Garryowen's opener on December 2nd.

Leinster

Matt Williams would almost have had to concede a walkover were they obliged to play three or four weeks ago, though manager Ken Ging admits that the enforced break was something of a blessing in that it has allowed virtually all their walking wounded to recover.

While the likes of Emmet Byrne and Trevor Brennan have inched their way back at club level, AIL December absentees Reggie Corrigan, Liam Toland, Denis Hickie, Mark McHugh and Gordon D'Arcy will all be available for inclusion when the Leinster team is announced today.

Furthermore, Brian O'Driscoll's bothersome hamstring strain didn't prevent him training yesterday and even John McWeeney (who would come into the reckoning were Leinster to make the knockout stages, at which point squad lists can be revised) may make his seasonal bow on Friday after his summer shoulder operation. "He's been a model of professionalism in terms of his rehab." said Ging.

Similar praise was heaped on Girvan Dempsey, and although his "remarkable recovery" from the torn ankle ligaments he sustained in Ireland's defeat to South Africa isn't sufficient for him to play this week, he could come into the equation for Friday week's meeting with Edinburgh Reivers. The unlucky Nathan Turner will, alas, probably be ruled out with a pulled hamstring sustained in Blackrock's defeat to Galwegians last Saturday week while the even more unfortunate Declan O'Brien will remain sidelined indefinitely with a troublesome knee problem which flares up after games.

Ulster and Connacht

Harry Williams and his Connacht counterpart Steph Nel have agreed to play three periods of 30 minutes in Friday's meeting between the provinces in Ravenhill. Hence, both will endeavour to play all of their named 30-man European squad at some juncture. This includes the Ulster hooker Allen Clarke, who missed the first four games of Ulster's campaign with a broken leg but recovered to play in all of Dungannon's opening four AIL games during December.

Additionally, Ryan Constable and Brad Free have returned from their Christmas break in Australia. The exception could be Tyrone Howe, sidelined for that month with a pulled hamstring sustained in Ireland's game against South Africa, while Connacht will be without injured prop David Clare and winger Nigel Carolan, who is away.

Meanwhile, over 90 per cent of grandstand seats have been sold for Ulster's final European Cup pool game against Saracens at Ravenhill on Friday January 19th. Due to this and an influx of 600 Saracens supporters, the Ulster Branch have decided to erect a temporary stand to accommodate a further 1,000 spectators.

In expectation of a full house, Ulster Branch chief executive Mike Reid advises spectators to buy their tickets sooner rather than later to avoid disappointment. Tickets (£10 for grandstand seat, £6 for terracing, adult, and £3 for terracing, children) can be purchased from the Ulster Branch at Ravenhill, SS Moores, Athletic Stores, Eurosports of Lisburn and by phoning Ticketmaster's credit card hotline on 08702434455.

This week's fixtures

Friday

European warm-up games: Munster v Leinster, Musgrave Park (7.30); Ulster v Connacht, Ravenhill (7.30).

Saturday

All-Ireland League (2.30)

Division Two: UCC v Greystones, Mardyke Grounds; Malone v Ballynahinch, Gibson Park; UCD v Midleton, Belfield Bowl; Dolphin v Carlow, Musgrave Park; City of Derry v Wanderers, Judge's Road; Old Belvedere v Bective Rangers, Anglesea Road; Old Wesley v U.L. Bohemians, Donnybrook; Portadown v Sunday's Well, Chambers Park.

Division Three - Instonians v Dublin University, Shaw's Bridge; Suttonians v Ballina, Station Road; Monkstown v Banbridge, Sydney Parade; Highfield v Thomond, Woodleigh Park; Corinthians v Waterpark, Corinthian Park; Naas v Bangor, Fournaughts; Richmond v Skerries, Richmond Park; Ards v Barnhall, Hamilton Park.