News round-up: John Langford arrived back in Ireland early on Monday and trained with Garryowen that evening. The Limerick team are seeking to strengthen their squad for their AIB All-Ireland League semi-final against Cork Constitution on Saturday.

The former Australia international joins a Garryowen squad that reports no injuries and which also has Ireland's openside flanker David Wallace available to play. The team selection will not be finalised until after training on Thursday night.

Constitution, who started with Anthony Horgan, Ronan O'Gara, Brian O'Meara and Frankie Sheahan in their last league match against Buccaneers, have a number of injury concerns. Mick O'Driscoll has a calf problem while Joey Sheahan (hamstring), Cian Mahony (foot) and Derek Dillon (leg) are all carrying knocks.

As is the case with Shannon, Constitution are finding the slotting in of contracted players at the expense of those regulars who got the team to the semi-finals a delicate business.

"Yes, there is a huge conflict," said coach Brian Hickey. "In a recent match we didn't start Frankie Sheahan because John Fogarty was playing so well throughout the season. It is a hard thing for them to accept but I think they appreciate the difficulty. Players like Ronan (O'Gara), John Kelly and Brian O'Meara have Ireland, Munster and Cork Con calls to sort out."

Constitution will select their team on Wednesday morning for the match at Temple Hill.

Shannon coach Geoff Moylan will name his team tomorrow to face Clontarf in the other Saturday match. Moylan must decide whether to keep faith in the players who have earned Shannon their first semi-final since winning the competition in 1998, or to slot in his international players, only to lose them again for the interprovincial series and Munster's match against Castres in the European Cup.

"It is a conflict, alright," he said. "All I can do is put the best team on the pitch. It's a collective thing with the team, a unit rather than individuals. We've had a meeting about it and spoke about it. We'd like to be loyal to our guys who got us here but if putting one or two of the contracted players in will help us win the trophy, then we will."

Of the Shannon squad, only Alan Quinlan is carrying and injury, which leaves Moylan facing the enviable task of slotting in three Ireland players who faced France last Saturday, Peter Stringer, Anthony Foley and John Hayes.

"All of the contracted players are interested in playing - funnily enough," said Moylan.

Clontarf, who have never finished higher than 11th in the league and are facing into their first semi-final, report no injuries to their regular squad. The only |Dublin side remaining in the running, they hope to bus over 500 supporters to Thomond Park

Meanwhile, the Irish Schools side will face Welsh Schools at Ravenhill on Saturday (3.0).

IRISH SCHOOLS: E Fitzgerald (Belvedere), S Grissing (St Mary's), J Hearty (Blackrock), S Morrissey (Gonzaga), R Conway (Coleraine); T Horner (Campbell College), D Connellan (Clongowes, capt); C O'Byrne (St Mary's), O McCormack (St Mary's), R Sweeney (St Mary's), L Stephenson (Ballyclare), A Houlihan (Clongowes), K McLaughlin (Gonzaga), D O'Brien (Belvedere), J Rockett (St Michael's). Replacements: K Copeland (Blackrock), G Stafford (Castleknock), S Auld (Royal School Armagh), K Leonard (St Mary's), N Conlon (RABAI), J Mackessy (Rockwell), D Varley (St Munchins).