A look ahead to all this weekend's action:

SATURDAY (2.30) Ballynahinch v Cork Constitution

Ballymacarn Park

Ballynahinch like this competition, but while Cork Con have been hurt by the Munster A v Leinster A game last night, in which Tom Gleeson and Duncan Williams featured, they should have enough to ease home with victory.

Verdict: Away win

Bective Rangers v Ballymena

Donnybrook

Division 1B against Division Two, and considering Ballymena have two victories under their belt in the AIL, as have Bective, we presume the Ulster club can continue their rebuilding season with progress to round three.

Verdict: Away win.

Dolphin v Barnhall

Musgrave Park

No Nick Williams or James Coughlan, the men who decimated Clontarf last week, makes Dolphin a very different proposition, but in Cork they should still be able to guide a route past Trevor Brennan’s old club.

Verdict: Home win.

Dungannon v Queen’s University

Stevenson Park

This looks like the end of the road for the Division Three students, but they will not go quietly against Ulster rivals Dungannon who have lost to Galwegians but recovered to beat Young Munster last weekend.

Verdict: Home win.

Galwegians v Dublin University

Crowley Park

Trinity have made a mess of their opening two fixtures in Division 2. Granted Terenure beat them and they lost on the road to Thomond, but development on campus seems to be struggling now the Dublin clubs have got their act together. A surprise is unlikely.

Verdict: Home win.

Lansdowne v Nenagh Ormond

RDS Showgrounds

Lansdowne made some serious investment to get into Division 1B last season but they stumbled at the finish line. Opening hammerings of Old Wesley and Bruff indicate they intend to win trophies this season.

Verdict: Home.

Malone v Blackrock College

Gibson Park

Blackrock are another club hurt by the Leinster A fixture against Munster last night, but they have enough depth in their squad to handle a Malone outfit that are struggling in Division Two.

Verdict: Away win.

Navan v Garryowen

Balreask Old

A strange fixture, but Navan RFC look a club with higher aspirations than Division Three. They have flexed their muscles in the Towns Cup and comfortably won their opening AIL games, so if Garryowen are not switched on we could have a surprise. Unlikely though.

Verdict: Away win.

Old Belvedere v Greystones

Anglesea Road

Greystones are in trouble after leaking players during the summer and suffering heavy defeats to Thomond and UCD in Division Two. Old Belvo look a good bet in this competition and to return to the top flight next season.

Verdict: Home win.

Shannon V Buccaneers

St Munchin’s College

Shannon won the AIB league last season and then promptly removed coach Geoff Moylan. They lost their opening two league matches, including a home defeat to St Mary’s. No panic just yet, but the Athlone visitors need attending to ahead of the meeting with in-form Dolphin next week. .

Verdict: Home win.

St Mary’s College v Bruff

Templeville Road

Heavily beaten by Lansdowne last Saturday at home, another buoyant Dublin club is expected to end any cup aspirations for Bruff this afternoon. St Mary’s have accelerated out of the blocks in Division 1A, beating Clontarf and Shannon.

Verdict: Home win.

UCC v Corinthians

The Mardyke

After a tricky opening in Division 1B, with defeats to Old Belvedere and Ballymena, UCC will see the Division Two opponents as a chance to kick-start their season.

Verdict: Home win.

UL Bahamians v Belfast Harlequins

Annacotty

Tommy O’Donnell was on Munster A duty last night along with Kieran Essex, so this is a shadow of UL Bohs’ usual backrow unit. That said, Harlequins are not the team we saw make the AIL final a few seasons back despite a perfect start to life in the new Division Two.

Verdict: Home win.

Thomond v UCD

Liam Fitzgerald Park

This two are due to meet again on October 24th in what could turn out to be a top-of-the-table class in Division Two. UCD seem in mildly better shape but home advantage may shade this for the Limerick side. However, we are going for the students.

Verdict: Away win.

Old Crescent V Clontarf

Rosbrien

Bernard Jackman could do with some good news on return from Leinster duty in France after two surprising defeats for last year’s AIL runners-up.

A return to the more tried and tested should see a confidence-boosting victory ahead of the small matter of Blackrock next week.

Verdict: Away win.

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