Munster have a number of injury concerns following their defeat by Leinster in last Saturday's Celtic League final. Lions and Ireland front row forward, Peter Clohessy, who was replaced after an hour of the match by Martin Cahill, strained a chest muscle but management are hoping he will be fit to line out for the province's European Cup match against Harlequins on January 5th.

Dominic Crotty, who received stitches to a head injury before resuming his place at full back, also expects to be available.

Rob Henderson's fate is less certain. The Irish centre limped off with a groin strain in the second half and although there is some relief that his problematic knee held up, Henderson's main concern now could be his level of match fitness.

Having been out for some months with the knee injury, the Lions centre finally nursed his way back into the Munster team with a run on the wing with the province and a match in the centre with his club Young Munster. Even if fit to play against Harlequins, the fear is that Henderson may come under pressure to last the pace of a competitive European Cup match.

Back row David Wallace is also a player who may struggle to regain match fitness. The openside flanker, who last played for Ireland against the touring All Blacks last month, has been carrying a shoulder injury and although he and prop John Hayes have been undertaking some fitness work with provincial trainers Fergal O'Callaghan and Mark McManus, they are not assured of recovery. Hayes, who also has a shoulder injury, is more likely than Wallace to play in the cup match.

Peter Stringer continues to be a worry. The Irish scrumhalf is struggling with an ankle injury which threatens to keep him out of the European tie.

Leinster backrow Eric Miller, who was shown the red card in the Celtic League final, will not know until tonight at the earliest what sanction will be imposed by the IRFU disciplinary committee.

There is no automatic sanction for being sent off in the Celtic League competition. The only stipulation in the rules is that the hearing be dealt with by the player's home union and that it takes place within a week of the offence. It is also believed that there can be no official on the disciplinary panel from the province of either of the two teams involved.

Carlow, who have a travelling support of around 200 people, hope to attract up to 400 supporters to their Leinster Senior Cup final against Clontarf in Donnybrook on December 29th. It is the first time Carlow have been in the final of a senior cup competition.

"Although the Leinster cup has lost a lot of its appeal over the years we would see it as a very desirable trophy to bring back to the town," said club official Harry Southern.