Today

(2.30 unless stated)

Division One

Lansdowne v Buccaneers Lansdowne Road

Lansdowne, with Brian Cusack replacing the injured Gabriel Fulcher, should field as selected, with Shane Horgan returning and adding another option to their one-dimensional display against Garryowen. Possibly with one eye on that, Buccaneers have surprisingly dropped Simon Allnutt, pushing Owen Cobbe to outhalf and stiffening up their midfield with Eamonn Molloy. Jimmy Screene and Joe McVeigh return to the frontrow, though Donal Rigney and Eoin Brennan remain longterm casualties.

Last two seasons: ('97-98) Didn't meet. ('9899) Buccaneers 14 Lansdowne 11. Last five games (most recent to right): Lansdowne - W W L W L. Buccaneers - L W W L L.

Leading try scorers: Lansdowne - Shane Horgan, Robbie Dolan 2 each. Buccaneers - Robert Lee 4, Martyne Steffert, Mike Devine 3 each.

Leading points scorers: Lansdowne - Barry Everitt 99. Buccaneers - Simon Allnutt - 62.

Referee: Alan Watson (Ulster). Odds (all courtesy of Paddy Powers): 2/7 Lansdowne, 20/1 Draw, 5/2 Buccs. (Handicap odds = Buccs +9pts) Lansdowne 5/6, 16/1 Draw, 5/6 Buccs.

Forecast: Lansdowne to win.

Ballymena v Dungannon Eaton Park

James Topping returns from Hong Kong duty to bring Andre Bester's in-form side back to full-strength as they seek a third successive win. Jan Cunningham and the influential Paddy Johns return to bolster a Dungannon side spiralling downwards and leaking more tries than anyone else.

Last two seasons: Ballymena 27 Dungannon 12. Didn't meet.

Last five games: Ballymena - L W L W W. Dungannon - L W L L L.

Leading try scorers: Ballymena - Simon Broughton 4, Shane Stewart, Mark Blair 3 each. Dungannon - Jonathan Bell 3.

Leading points scorers: Ballymena - Simon Mason 75. Dungannon - David Humphreys - 104.

Referee: Olan Trevor (Munster). Odds: 2/5 Ballymena, 18/1 Draw, 7/4 Dungannon. (Handicap odds = Dungannon +7pts) 5/6 Ballymena, 16/1 draw, 5/6 Dungannon.

Forecast: Ballymena to win.

Clontarf v Terenure Castle Avenue

Clontarf exchange one dual status tight-head, Aidan Clarke is required by Aer Lingus, for another, Tullow's Ivan Glynn while Terenure welcome back the influential Rory Sherriff and restore Shane Cullen to the wing for David Coleman.

Could be a surprise.

Last two seasons: Clontarf 36 Terenure 17. Terenure 18 Clontarf 32.

Last five games: Clontarf - L L L W L. Terenure - W L W W L.

Leading try scorers: Clontarf - O'Reilly, Brownlie, O'Brien, Ward, Reddan 1 each. Terenure - Richie Governey 3.

Leading points scorers: Clontarf - Richie Murphy 64. Terenure - David Lynagh - 67.

Referee: Gareth Doyle (Ulster).

Odds: 9/4 Clontarf, 18/1 Draw, 1/3 Terenure. Handicap odds (Clontarf +8pts) 5/6 Clontarf, 16/1 Draw, 5/6 Terenure.

Forecast: Clontarf to win.

St Mary's v DLSP Templeville Road (4.20) (Live on Network 2)

With the pacey Peter McKenna returning, Dennis Hickie passed fit and John McWeeney the division's leading try-scorer, St Mary's outside three are back in harness for the first time since scoring five tries in the 42-5 rout of Ballymena in January. Just as crucially, Philip Lynch returns at scrum-half for his first game since the January 22nd win over Garryowen and all the big guns are there up front.

The injured Eddie Devitt and John Corr, match-winners against Con, are replaced by Karl Lillis and Mark Cunningham from the original selection and the brilliant Shane Stephens is likely to be heavily marked, given Brent Pope is one of his biggest admirers.

Last two seasons: Didn't meet.

Last five games: St Mary's - W W L L W. DLSP - L L L W W.

Leading try scorers: St Mary's - John McWeeney 6, Peter McKenna 2. DLSP - John Corr 3, Shane Stephens 2.

Leading points scorers: St Mary's - Mark McHugh 60. DLSP - Dave O'Riordan 18.

Referee: Donal Courtney (Leinster).

Odds: 1/7 St Mary's, 20/1 Draw, 4/1 DLSP. Handicap odds (= DLSP +14pts) 5/6 St Mary's, 16/1 Draw, 5/6 DLSP.

Forecast: St Mary's to win.

Division Two

Galwegians v Dolphin Crowley Park

Galwegians are in a rich vein of form Matt Mostyn, having overcome a sometimes vitriolic campaign against him, leading the way with five tries in two games as the grounds harden and is surely deserving of a new contract.

Last season: Didn't meet. Last five games: W W L W W. Dolphin - L W W W L. Referee: David Napier (Ulster).

Forecast: Galwegians to win.

Malone v Greystones Gibson Park

Greystones are starting to swing more freely from the hip now, Morne Moxton accumulating 58 of their 108 points over the last three games. Though Malone have suddenly a bit more to play for they've managed just one bonus point from their last four outings.

Last season: Greystones 19 Malone 22. Last five games: Malone - W L L L L. Greystones - D L W L W. Referee: Alain Rol- land (Leinster).

Forecast: Greystones to win.

Sunday's v Belvedere Musgrave Park

Both fringe promotion hopefuls have fallen off the pace in recent weeks and realistically seem out of contention now, despite Andy Dunne's impressive return to action over the last three games (43 points studded with tries in each outing).

Last season: Old Belvedere 22 Sunday's Well 17. Last five games: Sunday's Well - W L W L L. Old Belvedere - W L L L L. Referee: Bertie Smith (Munster).

Forecast: The Well to win.

UCC V Old Crescent Mardyke

Crescent's fierce ambition for a return to the top flight alongside their better off Limerick neighbours looks like being fulfilled, though they are the only team in the top 11 not to score four tries in a game (having scored three four times).

Last season: Old Crescent 17 UCC 17. Last five games: UCC - L L W W L. Old Crescent - L W W W W. Referee: Padraig Gilmore (Connacht).

Forecast: Crescent to win.

Portadown V Harlequins Chambers Park

Showing flickering signs of hope, Portadown at least picked up their first point in five outings last time out at home to UCD. However Niall Malone's prolific form and the visitors classier backs should help maintain their promotion drive.

Last season: Didn't meet. Last five games: Portadown - L L L L L. Belfast Harlequins - W W W W L. Referee: Mark Orr (Ulster).

Forecast: Belfast Harlequins to win.

City Of Derry V UCD Branch Road

A crunch, promotion eight-pointer, with the losers liable to drop into the play-off place and face a hazardous route back into the top four. Significantly or not, City of Derry have lost to the other two top four teams so this is a benchmark of their campaign against a UCD side scoring no more freely and just as reliant on their place-kicker.

Last season: Didn't meet. Last five games: City of Derry - W W W W L. UCD - W L W W W. Referee: Dave McHugh (Munster).

Forecast: Home advantage to help swing it for City of Derry.

Tomorrow

Bective V Blackrock Donnybrook

Brian O'Driscoll is doubtful after aggravating his troublesome hamstring against Wanderers the other night and Blackrock are looking a little jaded as they face into the second of seven games in 31 days. Still, their desire for a return to the top table, their class and most of all their youthful enthusiasm should maintain their unbeaten record.

Last season: Didn't meet. Last five games: Bective - L L L L W. Blackrock - W W W W W. Referee: Dave Tyndall (Leinster).

Forecast: Blackrock to win.