Leinster flanker Declan O'Brien could be out of action until next April with a knee injury sustained during Clontarf's victory over Buccaneers at the weekend. The former DLSP player is to see a specialist when the swelling has reduced sufficiently.
It represents a devastating setback for a player whose performances in the latter stages of Leinster's season earned him numerous plaudits. His was in his first season with Clontarf and considered a notable acquisition for the north Dublin club.
Clontarf coach Brent Pope admitted: "To get a guy of his calibre and then lose him after two matches is hard to take. It's a big blow. We are lucky that we have quality replacements but we will certainly miss Declan."
Alan Dignam takes over in the back row but there is a doubt about prop Peter McQuillan. He is rated very doubtful. Opponents Lansdowne, fresh from an excellent away win against St Mary's College have made just one change with Barry Everitt returning from Munster duty and taking over at out-half. Brian Glennon steps down.
Champions Shannon resume their defence of the title with a tricky away assignment against an unbeaten Blackrock College team. The Limerick side have delayed selection to ascertain the extent of bumps and bruises suffered by several players while on Munster duty at the weekend.
Alan Quinlan (shoulder), John Lacey (groin) and Mark McDermott (back) are the more serious injury concerns. Blackrock College coach Kevin West will make a late decision on the tighthead berth: Paul Jordan and Ian McLaughlin vie for a place in the starting line-up. That match has a 2.15 kick-off.
Cork Constitution hooker Frankie Sheahan could miss his team's visit to Young Munster after a bizarre accident during the half-time interval at Munster's European Cup quarter-final against Colomiers on Sunday. Sheahan suffered a freak knee injury in a game of tip-rugby and to make matters worse Munster wanted to take off Shannon McDermott who was struggling with a back problem. The latter had to stay on the pitch.
Constitution will definitely be without Munster wingers John Kelly and Anthony Horgan, both of whom are suffering from hamstring problems. Young Munster have also delayed selection awaiting medical reports on Richard Larkin, Mick Lynch and scrumhalf Derek Tobin who has been out for the past five weeks with a calf injury.
Galwegians have learned that Connacht full back Willie Ruane could be out for four or five months with a pelvic injury. They have yet to decide on a team but there are unlikely to be too many alterations.
Buccaneers will not announce a team for their clash with Terenure College in Ballinasloe until tomorrow because of injuries to captain Brian Rigney (shoulder), New Zealander Martin Steffert (knee) and Des Rigney (knee). The latter had an operation four weeks ago but is still experiencing some discomfort and must return to the specialist.
Terenure boast an extensive casualty list that includes Ciaran Clarke, Shane Cullen, Craig Fitzpatrick, Stephen Baretto and Rory Sheriff. Better news for the Lakelands club is that internationals Eric Miller and Girvan Dempsey are both available.
Gary Longwell and Jan Cunningham are Ballymena's main concerns in advance of Saturday's game against St Mary's College. The visitors have injury problems of their own, most notably prop Emmet Byrne (ankle) and flanker Mark Reilly (sternum) but centre Ray McIlreavy will be out for three weeks, the mandatory lay-off for concussion.
In Division Two, Dungannon are without Ulster captain David Humphreys who dislocated a shoulder in last Friday night's famous win over Toulouse at Ravenhill. Mark Bradley is expected to deputise.
Bective Rangers' Ulster duo, halfbacks Mark Edwards and Bryn Cunningham return to the side for the Wanderers match.
