Celtic League news: In the only Celtic League match scheduled for the weekend, Connacht travel to Wales for a meeting with Gwent Dragons on Sunday in what is being billed as a match between two teams fighting for survival.
While Connacht, who lost to Edinburgh by a point last weekend to miss out on a place in the Celtic Cup final against Ulster, are awaiting the outcome of the IRFU's professional structure review due next year, Gwent are facing their own problems.
Having gone into administration last week, the club, who are guided by former Leinster coach Mike Ruddock and Clive Griffiths, are set to shed up to five players this week in an effort to cut wage costs.
Despite all the difficulties and uncertainties, the Rodney Parade team have managed to remain unbeaten at home in the Celtic League and are in fourth place, one behind Connacht.
Connacht report no serious injury concerns, although it won't be known until later in the week whether prop Ray Hogan, who was replaced last week after 10 minutes by Fabien Boiroux because of knee problems, will be available.
Connacht hope to announce a team today which is likely to include outside centre Darren Yapp, who last week became the first player in Celtic League history to score a hat-trick of tries (v Ulster) and still come out on the losing side.
Leinster, meanwhile, confirmed that Argentinian outhalf Felipe Contepomi arrived in Dublin yesterday evening and will undergo a routine fitness test with fitness coach Aidan O'Connell on Friday.
Subject to the results of that, the 26-year-old will be available to play against Neath-Swansea Ospreys at the Gnoll on November 29th.
By then the World Cup players should be back with their respective provinces, which will give Leinster coach Gary Ella, Munster coach Alan Gaffney and Ulster's Alan Solomons their first glimpse of this season's full strength squads ahead of the Heineken European Cup.
FIXTURES
SUNDAY: Celtic League: Gwent Dragons v Connacht, Rodney Parade 2.30. Leinster Senior Cup: Semi-finals: DLSP v Old Belvedere, Kilternan, 2.30; Lansdowne v Carlow, Lansdowne Road (back pitch), 2.30.
