Saturday
Division One
Shannon v Buccaneers
The only game in Limerick, Shannon on a do-or-die mission and the Pirates heading a 500-1,000 strong invasion. Much will depend on the fitness of Mark McDermott. Thanks largely to his accuracy, the Shannon line-out is as well-versed as any around, and if they are to ruffle their opponents they'll need a solid platform here, while hoping that Eddie Halvey can disrupt the Buccaneers throw.
Shannon need a big game from all the big guns, and Mick Galwey will probably produce a big one after the personal disappointment of last week in front of the watching Warren Gatland, whose presence also makes this an important game for the Shannon loose-forwards and the Buccaneers props.
Victory will give Shannon a clear sight of daylight at the end of the tunnel and make them more dangerous than ever. Though form points to Buccs, with home advantage, you suspect Shannon's greater need will just about get them there.
Last season: Didn't meet.
Five-game formguide: Shannon - L L L W W. Buccs - L W W W W.
Leading try scorers: Shannon - John Lacey 4, Marcus Horan 3. Buccs - Brian Rigney 4.
Leading points scorers: Shannon - Andrew Thompson 65. Buccs - Simon Allnutt 99.
Referee: A Lewis (Leinster).
Odds (Paddy Powers): 4/7 Shannon, 16/1 Draw, 11/8 Buccs. Handicap - 5/6 Shannon (-5pts), 16/1 Draw, 5/6 Buccs (+5pts).
Forecast: Shannon to win.
Ballymena v Terenure
Not since the opening two games has Andre Bester been able or inclined to select the same team, and with James Topping (Ballymena's 33rd player in seven games last time out) Hong Kong bound, changes were again obligatory. On top of which, further evidence of disharmony in the camp is the exclusion from the 22 of Ulster tight-head Rab Irwin - ironically their leading try scorer - as well as the demotion to the bench of Mark Blair.
Dean Macartney could be in line for his seventh game of the campaign, while, curiously, Simon Mason is again chosen at out-half. Jan Cunningham returns for his first game since sustaining multiple facial fractures in the European Cup final. Terenure replace the injured Eric Miller (who could yet be back for the Italian game) by moving Gavin Hill to number eight with Dermot Blaney coming in at six, while Shane Cullen replaces the injured Craig Fitzpatrick. Mason's boot should end Ballymena's four-game losing streak.
Last season: Terenure 5 Ballymena 25 Five-game formguide: Ballymena - W L L L L. Terenure - W D L W L.
Leading try scorers: Ballymena - Rab Irwin 2. Terenure - Girvan Dempsey 3.
Leading points scorers: Ballymena - Simon Mason 79. Terenure Craig Fitzpatrick 40.
Referee: R McDowell (Munster).
Odds (Paddy Powers): 4/9 Ballymena, 16/1 Draw, 15/8 Terenure. Handicap - 5/6 Ballymena (-8pts), 16/1 Draw, 5/6 Terenure (+8pts).
Forecast: Ballymena to win.
Division Two
DLSP v City of Derry
Philip Werahiko's switch to more of a 15-man game and Shane Stephens's switch to full back has coincided with a run of four successive wins for DLSP who now find themselves well-placed for promotion. City of Derry are dangerous visitors, although successive defeats have ended their own run of five wins, putting paid to their own promotion hopes.
Forecast: DLSP to win.
Greystones v UCC
Possibly no club side, not even Ballymena, have had so many distracting call-ups and after the recent spate of universities' matches, which leaned so heavily on the Cork students, the weariness is starting to show. They may be vulnerable to a young Greystones side starting to breath more easily now.
Forecast: Greystones to win.
Malone v Bective Rangers
A fourth successive defeat here will assuredly signal the end of Malone's promotion hopes. Their Kiwi flanker and player-coach, Paul Henderson, is again likely to be sidelined. Bective's penchant for tight games continues apace and a surprise here is by no means impossible.
Forecast: Malone to win.
Old Crescent v Skerries
Crescent remain very much in the hunt even if they've little or no margin for error. Only Dungannon have taken them at home whereas relegation-threatened Skerries have lost four of five on the road.
Forecast: Crescent to win.
Old Wesley v Dungannon
Injuries and representative call-ups have continually disrupted Dungannon's preferred starting XV (David Humphreys being the latest victim, while Johnny Bell is again ruled out). But their scrum is possibly second only to Buccaneers's in the AIL and should again lay the foundations for an eighth win in a row.
Forecast: Dungannon to win.
Sunday's Well v Portadown
The Well's recovery has come too late to revive their earlier promotion hopes. Portadown are the proverbial dark horses, but their poor away form suggests they could be vulnerable here.
Forecast: Sunday's Well to win.
Ballynahinch v Wanderers
For Ballynahinch pride alone demands they take a scalp before long. Wanderers's slim promotion hopes were all but erased by an emphatic defeat at home to Crescent, but they've shown a certain spirit and have some useful performers.
Forecast: Wanderers to win.
Sunday
Division Two
Old Belvedere v Dolphin
Of the bottom quartet striving to avoid the three relegation places, Dolphin seem the best equipped and if they are to survive, this is the type of game (against a mid-table outfit with nothing tangible to play for) which they have to win.
Forecast: Dolphin to win.
