Saturday

Clontarf v Ballymena (2.30 unless stated)

Castle Avenue

Phil Werahiko's Clontarf played with impressive purpose and unity against UCD last weekend and appear to be gaining in confidence. Forward ball retention won that match with Ben Gissing particularly strong at number eight. Clontarf have never beaten Ballymena, who lost narrowly last Saturday to Lansdowne when Peter McIntosh's kicking let him down. Club captain Donal Sheehan comes into the Clontarf second row with Dave Moore reverting to the bench in a match the home team should be quietly confident of winning.

Formguide: Clontarf - LWDLW; Ballymena - LLWLL

Leading try scorer: Clontarf - B Gissing, D Higgins 2; Ballymena - A Maxwell 2

Leading points scorer: Clontarf - J Dempsey 55; Ballymena - P McIntosh 53

Referee: S Flannery

Forecast: Clontarf win.

Terenure v Carlow

Lakelands Park

Doubts over right wing Phillip Costello and open side Peter O'Malley concern Terenure, who lost last week to Garryowen. The Dublin side started strongly but in the last quarter of the match fell away. Kevin Putt, who came off before the end of the match but is fit, will have a lot to say about maintaining concentration against a Carlow side who could cause them severe problems.

Carlow have no injury worries but in a frustrating match against Buccaneers came away with a penalty count of 26 against. Carlow are not that indisciplined and if Andy Melville plays his rampaging game Terenure should worry.

Formguide: Terenure - LWWWL Carlow - WLWWD

Leading try scorer: Terenure - C Egan 4; Carlow - M Spiller, A Melville, B Baggott 3

Leading points scorer: Terenure - R Governey 58; Carlow - B Murphy, B Jones 12

Referee: D Tyndall

Forecast: Terenure

Sunday

Buccaneers v Garryowen

Moher Road, Ballinasloe

Buccaneers have an impressively strong pack but had to come from 22-3 down against Carlow to earn a draw in the last 10 minutes in Oak Park. Form has varied, unlike Garryowen, who have made three changes to the side that beat Terenure last week. Jeremy Staunton is at full back for Dominic Crotty, Kieron Laurin replaces John Giltenane at loosehead and Diarmuid O'Riordan, who started at full back last week, replaces injured winger Cyril Tupiniere. Captain Colin Varley led by example last week at Dooradoyle from the back row and at the end of the match Garryowen looked by far the sweeter side.

Formguide: Buccaneers - WLWLD Garryowen - WDWWW

Leading try scorer: Buccaneers - E Brennan, C Keane, T Robinson 2; Garryowen - K Keane 2

Leading points scorer: Buccaneers - C Glynn 57; Garryowen - B Treacy 58

Referee: J Sheehan

Forecast: Garryowen to win

Cork Constitution v Galwegians

Temple Hill

Galwegians technically have all of their contracted players available and should begin to show some form, although with three of them playing last week against Shannon, they obviously have some distance to go. But there are nine players available to face last year's defeated league finalists now that Connacht's run has come to an end. Con, however, go into this one with inflated confidence after last week's 5-20 win over St Mary's, with Conor Mahony kicking five penalties to keep up his league average of over 12 points a match. The question is whether Galwegians can gel quickly enough. Probably not.

Formguide: Cork Con - LWLWW Galwegians - LLWLL

Leading try scorer: Cork Con - D O'Callaghan 3; Galwegians - M Murphy, R Lee, B Liddy 1

Leading points scorer: Cork Con - C Mahony 63; Galwegians - B Shelbourne 43

Referee: A Rolland

Forecast: Home win.

Shannon v St Mary's College

Thomond Park

St Mary's have wobbled a little in the last two weeks with a draw and a defeat, something that coach Brent Pope will be determined to remedy. Because of Celtic League duty with Leinster and fitness concerns, St Mary's cannot be sure whether they will have Peter McKenna, Gavin Hickie and Peter Coyle. Shannon lose Marcus Horan to Munster as he replaces the injured John Hayes, so Gary McNamara comes into the front row in just one change from last week.

Formguide: Shannon - LWWLW St Mary's - WWWDL

Leading try scorer: Shannon - J O'Connor, D Quinlan, M McNamara, M Lawlor, B Buckley, M Horan, D Hegarty 1; St Mary's - C McPhillips 2

Leading points scorer: Shannon - A Thompson 50; St Mary's - B Lynn 34

Referee: T Redmond

Forecast: Shannon

Young Munster v DLSP

Tom Clifford Park

This was once a fearsome place to come to and get a result, but Young Munster have been struggling all season and currently anchor the bottom of the table with six defeats in as many games. DLSP, however have had a change in fortune and are now seeking their third successive win having lost their opening three matches. Young Munster's fortune will probably change at some point, but probably not this weekend.

Formguide: Young Munster - LLLLLL DLSP - LLLWW

Leading try scorer: Young Munster - L Doyle 2; DLSP - M Viorneau 4

Leading points scorer: Young Munster - M Lynch 39; DLSP - D McCabe 32

Referee: B Smith

Forecast: DLSP

Lansdowne v UCD

Lansdowne

UCD scored three tries in their first match of the season against Shannon and have since struggled to maintain that tempo, scoring just three tries in four matches. It is not entirely unexpected from the student team, but in Lansdowne they face a side who recently lost narrowly to the in-form Garryowen and who beat Ballymena last week. The students welcome back scrumhalf Brian O'Riordan and wing forward Anto Carroll, but Philip Bredin will struggle to be fit. Paddy Hickey-Dwyer would come on to the wing as a probable a replacement. Lansdowne welcome back hooker Anthony Ronan.

Formguide: Lansdowne - WWLLW UCD - WWLDL

Leading try scorer: Lansdowne - A McGowan 2; UCD - G Hayes, N Coughlan, P Bredin, D O'Sullivan, S Moore, P Hickey - Dwyer 1

Leading points scorer: Lansdowne - A McGowan 49; UCD - E Hickey 53

Referee: G Doyle

Forecast: Home win