LANSDOWNE welcome back Ireland's Eric Elwood, who limped off the pitch at Lansdowne Road during England's record win a fortnight ago. The out-half returns for his club's game against Ballymena in Dublin.
Brian Glennon, who came on as a substitute two weeks ago against Young Munster, also comes into the league leading side in place of centre Kurt McQuilkin. Not yet recovered from a chest injury he sustained against Scotland last weekend McQuilkin is likely to be missing for most of Lansdowne's six remaining fixtures.
It is expected that he will be sidelined for two weeks with the sternum injury and will then be unavailable for a further two weeks because of his role as technical adviser to the under-19 team that travel to Argentina for an international tournament. There is also a slight doubt about prop Angus McKeen.
Ballymena travel without international wing James Topping. Topping is still serving out his mandatory three-week lay off after sustaining concussion. He will also miss his side's game next week against Young Munster.
Shannon, who trail Lansdowne on points difference only are waiting to see if Mick Galwey is fit to line out. If Galwey has recovered sufficiently from the back injury which kept him out of Ireland's `A' win over Scotland, he will come into the second row and John Hayes will move to prop for their side's home game against Old Belvedere.
The Dublin team have personnel worries in their back row and will not select their side until later in the week when the full extent of the injuries are known.
Blackrock College's away match against Instonians is crucial if they are to keep in touch with the top two sides, but they too have injury difficulties. Rory Kearns has shin problems while David Beggy's trouble centres around his knee. Dean Oswald has returned to New Zealand.
Terenure have not selected their side yet but Niall Hogan has definitely left the club. Although London Irish have not officially confirmed it, Hogan will be playing for them in the future.
St Mary's bring in John McWeeney for David Lyons and Conor McGuiness comes back for Eoin McCormack in a changed side for their home match against Garryowen. The Limerick team have not finalised their line up yet, but Ben Cronin is back having missed the fa league match and Killian Keane, who was out for Ireland's `A' match on Friday with a knee injury and also missed Garryowen's last AIL game, is likely to return.
Dungannon, who are hovering close to relegation territory, are host to Young Munster but will not be selecting until tonight. The Ulster side have several injury worries. Witty Dunne, who broke two ribs against Terenure, is replaced by John Hastings on the blind side flank with second row Charlie Simpson also out with a shoulder dislocation.
Good news is that scrum half Stephen Bell is fit again. His groin injury, sustained while playing at Dr Hickey Park against the English under-21s, was strong enough to allow him play against Scotland under 21s last weekend and he returns for his club. Ronnie Carey on the wing and John Patterson are both available for selection.
Young Munster have not selected but it is anticipated that fullback Peter Boland and lock Mark Fitzgerald will be fit to line out.
Old Wesley hope to chose from a full line up for their clash with mid table Cork Constitution. Chris Pin, who.has been out with a hamstring injury, Robby Love who came off against Shannon with an injured arm and Dave Bursey, who also left the field against Shannon all hope to be available for the Cork trip. Rory Duggan, a duel player from Naas, also fills the hooker position as both Matt King and John Quirke remain injured.
An 18-man squad will travel to Wales this weekend in preparation for the Rugby World Sevens in Hong Kong on March 15th. A number of players are unavailable for this session but will be available for final selection for the tournament. Brian O'Meara and James Topping cannot play because of rules governing concussion while Eric Miller is still recovering from his injury sustained against England. Denis Hickie is also unavailable along with Eric Elwood, Jan Cunningham and Jonathan Bell. A final 10-man squad will ultimately be selected to travel to Hong Kong.
