Celtic League: Leinster expect to have all but the five international players who faced France last weekend available for their Celtic League clash with the Newport Gwent Dragons on Saturday.
The Ireland A players, who were beaten in Limoges on the eve of the Paris international, are expected back in to coach Michael Cheika's squad for the trip to Rodney Parade.
As Ireland coach Eddie O'Sullivan has been using the Irish A games to blood younger players, Cheika can also look to the experience of Girvan Dempsey, Denis Hickie and Keith Gleeson to season the side. They have not played a match since Leinster's last outing.
One injury omission in the backrow is Cameron Jowitt, who remains sidelined with a fractured cheekbone, while winger Rob Kearney has been suffering from a back strain.
Leinster, who will select a squad today, expect to be missing Brian O'Driscoll, Shane Horgan, Gordon D'Arcy, Malcolm O'Kelly and Reggie Corrigan.
Munster, too, have a selection of top players available for their Thomond Park game against Glasgow Warriors. The handful of A internationals, Tomás O'Leary, Barry Murphy and Mick O'Driscoll, are included, as are Anthony Foley and Donncha O'Callaghan. Ian Dowling, who was due to make his debut at A level but was forced to withdraw with a slight groin strain, is also included.
Garryowen flanker Anthony Kavanagh, who impressed in the Development victory last week over Leinster, is included, as is his club colleague Conor Kilroy.
Ulster coach Mark McCall has named a squad of 22 ahead of this Friday's Celtic League match against Edinburgh at Murrayfield. All of the Irish players, with the exception of winger Tommy Bowe, have been released for the match. Matt McCullough, Bryan Young, Neil Best, Roger Wilson and Bryn Cunningham return from duty with Ireland A. McCall is expected to name his team tomorrow.
Connacht are also back in Celtic League action and face the Llanelli Scarlets at the Sportsground on Saturday. Victory over the leading Welsh side would push struggling Connacht off the bottom of the table.
Five players were involved in the Ireland A game in Limoges. John Fogarty, who left the pitch with a neck injury in the first half, is a concern for this weekend's game, while Ray Hogan, John Hearty, Chris Keane and Conor McPhillips are expected to line out.
Dafydd Jones, the 28-time capped Llanelli backrow, has been cleared to play, having served a three-week suspension for a red card against Ulster.
A mistake in his hearing meant he was initially banned for three weeks from the date of the hearing, rather than the date of the offence. Jones is now free to play for the Scarlets a week before Wales play Ireland at Lansdowne Road.
Elsewhere, Irish referee Alan Lewis will take charge of his fifth European Cup quarter-final, when the competition resumes in April. Lewis will control the meeting between Biarritz Olympique and Sale Sharks. Joel Jutge of France will be in the middle for the all-England quarter-final between Leicester Tigers and Bath at the Walkers Stadium.
English official Dave Pearson, who controversially awarded Tommy Bowe a touchdown in Ireland's opening Six Nations game against Italy, will take charge of his first tournament quarter-final when he referees the clash between reigning champions Toulouse and Leinster at Le Stadium on Saturday, April 1st. Welsh official Nigel Whitehouse will control his fourth European Cup quarter-final when he officiates in Munster's match against Perpignan at Lansdowne Road.
In the European Challenge Cup, Ireland's Donal Courtney has been given the match between Gloucester and Brive, while George Clancy will referee Northampton against Worcester. Eric Darriere (France) will be in the middle when Newcastle and Connacht meet at Kingston Park on Friday, March 31st, with Scottish referee Malcolm Changleng on duty on April 2nd when London Irish meet Bayonne.
MUNSTER - Forwards: F Roche, T Buckley, E McGovern, F Pucciariello, D Fogarty, D Varley, T Hogan, M O'Driscoll, D O'Callaghan, D Ryan, S Keogh, J O'Connor, A Foley, J O'Sullivan, A Kavanagh. Backs: T O'Leary, M Prendergast, M Lawlor, P Burke, B Keeshan, C Kilroy, A Horgan, I Dowling, J Kelly, A Pitout, T Halstead, G Connolly, B Murphy, S Payne.
ULSTER - Forwards: B Young, J Fitzpatrick, S Best, N Brady, R Best, J Harrison, M McCullough, R Frost, N Best, N McMillan, R Wilson, S Ferris. Backs: B Cunningham, A Maxwell, A Trimble, P Steinmetz, J Bell, J Topping, A Larkin, D Humphreys, K Campbell, I Boss.
