Lansdowne and Clontarf will be hoping to maintain the momentum they gained from opening victories in the All-Ireland League when they face each other in the final of the Smithwicks Old Belvedere Floodlit Cup at Anglesea Road tonight.

Clontarf, who won the cup in 1989, were by all accounts very fortunate to collect two valuable league points from their first outing in the top flight.

They make three changes from the side that beat Old Crescent for tonight's game. Shane McCarthy comes in for Ronan O'Reilly at scrum-half, Ivan Cummins replaces Peter McQuillan in the front row, while Ian Stewart takes the place of flanker Alan Dignam.

Clontarf have played some very good rugby in the Floodlit Cup this year, accounting for Greystones, DLSP and hosts Old Belvedere on their way to the final.

Lansdowne have also won the cup once, in 1990. They had a bye into the second round and went on to record wins over Blackrock and Wanderers.

While their pack performed very well in the opening game of the season against Old Belvedere, problems continue behind the scrum. Lansdowne were hoping to have their captain, Kurt McQuilkin, back for this game, but the New Zealand-born centre is not fully recovered from injury.

It will suit Clontarf, who include three former Lansdowne players in their ranks; centre Gareth Aherne, flanker Pat Ward and hooker and captain Bernard Jackman, to start as underdogs.

However, that could all change if Lansdowne fail to disrupt their quick rucking game. Clontarf have already shown that they have the backs to put that possession to profitable use.

Lansdowne: B Quinn; M Dillon, S Horgan, B Glennon, R Kearns; R Governey, D O'Mahony (capt); W O'Kelly, B McCoy, A McKeen, A Freeman, P O'Connor, S Rooney, A Forde, C McEntee.

Clontarf: M Woods; N Barry, G Aherne, M Smith, M Fitzsimons; R Murphy, S McCarthy; T Hannigan, B Jackman (capt), I Cummins, M Coughlan, M Meredith, I Stewart, P Ward, C Brownlee.