Ballymena will be without their 10 Ulster players for Saturday's AIB League Division One clash with Young Munster at Clifford Park. In a magnanimous gesture, the Eaton Park club's South African coach, Andre Bester, has decided to forego the services of those players contracted to Ulster to facilitate the province's preparations for the European Cup final against Colomiers at Lansdowne Road on Saturday week.

The upshot is that Simon Mason, Andrew Park, Sheldon Coulter, Jan Cunningham, Andrew Matchett, Rab Irwin, Mark Blair, Gary Longwell, Tony McWhirter and Derek Topping have been informed that they are not required on Saturday. Ballymena had been hoping that the IRFU would postpone their match against Young Munster, but that is an improbable scenario.

Bester explained his decision: "I had a good look at the situation and considered that it would not be in the interests of Ulster and Irish rugby to ask my Ulster players to play a league match at the weekend." Bester is philosophical about the task that he has set for the fringe players in the Ballymena squad. "There is nothing to lose in one sense for the players concerned," he said. Ballymena have left two vacancies, at centre and open-side flanker, that will not be filled until later in the week. Young Munster have delayed selection awaiting medical reports on scrum-half Derek Tobin and centre-cum-wing Noel O'Meara. They expect to be at full strength.

Lansdowne, chastened by their thrashing at the hands of Shannon, expect to welcome back Gordon D'Arcy and Shane Horgan. Buccaneers are forced to make one change for their game against league leaders Garryowen at Keane Park. Second row Donal Rigney, sent off against Cork Constitution last weekend, is replaced by younger brother Colm. Prop Jimmy Screene has a knee injury, but is expected to play. Garryowen have not selected but are reasonably optimistic that Shane Leahy and Ben Cronin will be available following injury.

In Division Two, Dungannon will make a decision within the next 24 hours whether to play their six Ulster players in the important league game against Wanderers. Bective Rangers have named their Ulster duo of Mark Edwards and Bryn Cunningham in the team to play Ballynahinch.