A home quarter-final is in the minds of both the Leinster and Munster squads as they face into round five of the of the Heineken European Cup on Saturday. Leinster travel to Kingston Park to meet Newcastle, while Munster take on Harlequins in Limerick, with both teams hoping to keep their winning records intact and remain on top of their groups.
Ulster also travel to London, where they meet Wasps at Loftus Road on Sunday.
Leinster, who took just Christmas Day and St Stephen's Day off, are likely to face the English Cup holders with just one change from the Celtic League final starting line-up. Trevor Brennan will come in for Eric Miller at blindside while the flanker sits out a suspension for being shown a red card against Munster in the final.
There is also a question mark over Blackrock's Bob Casey, who has had microsurgery on a troublesome knee. Front row Emmet Byrne remains a longer-term concern and awaits advice on a shoulder problem.
Newcastle, meanwhile, have become embroiled in a controversy surrounding their Tongan flanker Epeli Taione. The club's director of rugby, Rob Andrew, has alleged Gloucester's French hooker Olivier Azam made racist remarks against Taione. Andrew made the complaint on Saturday following a brawl between the two players, who were both sent off.
In the meantime, Taione is free to play until a disciplinary hearing is convened. Because of the holidays and the need for club officials to meet, a date for the hearing has not been fixed.
Munster coaches Declan Kidney and Niall O'Donovan were at Vicarage Road on Sunday where Harlequins were beaten 39-25 by Saracens. Paul Burke scored five penalties and a drop goal for the losing side.
John Langford is back in the Munster squad and took part in the friendly match against Ulster at Ravenhill Road over Christmas, coming on as a replacement in the second row for Mick O'Driscoll. Munster report no serious injury concerns.
Ulster, with confidence buoyant after beating Munster 51-24 in the friendly, will select a team to face Wasps today. New Zealand-born Shane Stewart is definitely out of contention following the re-occurrence of a knee injury in training.
The seven-times capped Irish winger James Topping is also a doubt. Topping has had a groin injury and no decision will be made about his availability until today. South African flanker Rob Brink is not expected to be back in the side until mid-February.
Better news surrounds Jeremy Davidson, who played the full match against Munster, while Bryn Cunningham, who suffered a deep stud injury in November, came on as a second-half substitute for full back Paddy Wallace.
Yesterday's planned Ulster Senior Cup final between last season's All-Ireland League champions Dungannon and Ballynahinch was postponed because of a frozen pitch at Ravenhill Road. The game has been re-fixed for Friday at 7.30.
