The weather rather than team selection could enjoy the single biggest influence regarding the outcome to tomorrow's AIB League Division One and Two programmes. Concern has been expressed about the condition of pitches after heavy rainfall over the past few days: little improvement on the current climate is forecast before Sunday.
Blackrock coach George Hook conceded: "Stradbrook is not in great shape at all. We intend to inspect the pitch at lunch-time today. At this stage you would have to say that we are concerned. Out of courtesy to Garryowen we would look to make a decision as early as possible."
Leinster is not the only province afflicted by the heavy rainfall. Old Crescent official John O'Riordan confessed that if the game had to go ahead today, then Rosbrien would not be playable: they too will make an early decision as St Mary's College are the visitors and would look to travel down to Limerick today.
The air of uncertainty did not dissuade clubs from announcing teams in the hope that the fixtures could be fulfilled. Shannon confirmed a clean bill of health.
Injuries to John Lacey, Andrew Thompson and Eddie Halvey have cleared up while flanker Alan Quinlan will play despite ankle damage. A minor cause of alarm is the flu which has laid low prop Noel Healy but he is expected to take his place in the Limerick derby against Young Munster on Sunday.
St Mary's College injury crux has deepened with centre Ray McIlreavy and hooker Barry Browne the latest casualties. Both players were forced to withdraw with groin injuries, joining internationals Conor McGuinness and John McWeeney, prop Emmet Byrne and Leinster flanker Trevor Brennan on the sidelines.
Eugene Gibney will partner Gareth Gannon in the centre while Paddy Power takes over the hooking role for the trip to Limerick. The burden of an overcrowded treatment table at Templeville Road looks like being eased with all bar Brennan likely to be in contention for a place against Clontarf tomorrow week.
Brennan must await the results of an MRI scan but the prognosis is not good. He is definitely suffering from a cracked vertebrae in his back but there could be further damage. He has not played or trained for over a month and it is unlikely that he will be back in action before February at the earliest, a bitter blow for a promising player.
Terenure, who host Ballymena, will make a late decision of the vacancy at centre depending largely on the fitness of Shane Cullen. David Crossan deputises for James Blaney in the front row.
Lansdowne have named wings Marcus Dillon and Melvin McNamara and second row Stephen O'Connor in the team to play Dungannon despite injury concerns about all three.
Ulster centre Michael Jackson will make his league debut for Blackrock against Garryowen at Stradbrook tomorrow. Injury precluded his presence before now and there was further good news for Hook when he was able to name Brian Carey on the bench.
The A international has been out for almost a year with a knee injury but will play at some stage. Jackson replaces Paddy Dunne (tonsilitis) on the right wing. The club's good fortune though was tempered by Australian Matt Moraghan's decision to leave for London Irish.
The ACT Brumbie Development squad member had been at Stradbrook for the past four weeks, coming on as a replacement in the defeat by Ballymena: he has decided to take up a one month trial offered by the Sunbury club.
Wanderers must plan without captain Shane McEntee for the remainder of the season. Second row Jim O'Callaghan will take over in that capacity. For tomorrow's game against Old Wesley they will be without injured centre Rody Corrigan and scrum-half Alain Rolland who is unavailable.
Former international Vincent Cunningham is included in the centre with Martin Mahon taking over the number nine jersey. Jim Cullinan is preferred to Kent Ashmore at prop.
Their opponents are without Richard Jackson. Stuart Kinlan moves to loosehead with Moss Cox, enjoying a rare afternoon away from surgical duties, coming in at tighthead.
