WHILE England, Scotland and Wales will all be engaged on the international front this weekend, the focus in Ireland will be on the second series of matches in the All Ireland League.

Ireland coach Murray Kidd will be in Murrayfield this afternoon to see Scotland play Italy, whose performance will be of particular interest as Ireland meet the Italians in Dublin. on January 4th.

England play Argentina at Twickenham this afternoon and tomorrow, Ireland manager Pat Whelan and selector Donal Lenihan will be in Cardiff to see Wales play the World Cup holders South Africa.

For those clubs who lost last week in the opening series of matches in the AIL, the points at stake this afternoon are a needed if not, as yet, an urgent requirement. Two defeats in two matches would leave a burden that is likely to become heavier as the league progresses.

These are, of course, early days and there is a long road ahead that will not end until next April. But while last season the threat of relegation did not hang over the clubs, this season it does. All of the clubs will be anxious not to remain pointless after two matches.

For those clubs who won last week, another victory this afternoon will be especially welcome. and two more points may not engender title ambitions among them all, but will be a very nice cushion.

The first division titleholders, Shannon, were among those clubs who started the campaign on a winning note, beating local rivals Young Munster at Tom Clifford Park. That was the best possible start to the defence of their title. Shannon are back home at Thomond Park today to meet Cork Constitution, who also won last week.

No victory achieved in the opening series of matches was more comprehensive than that attained by Blackrock College who defeated Garryowen 43-13. They will be at home this afternoon against Old Welsey, who also won last week against Old Belvedere.

Terenure marked their first appearance in the top division by winning at Ballymena. Today they play Garryowen on home territory at Lakeland's Park.

The other first division newcomers, Old Crescent, will be hoping to put last week's defeat by St Mary's behind them when they play Lansdowne at Rosbrien where they face a team that saw off Dungannon.

St Mary's will be hoping to build on their victory over Old Crescent when they visit Instonians. At Stevenson Park, Dungannon play Ballymena, 159th clubs lost last week, so the first league points are on offer to both.

Two other clubs who lost their opening matches, Old Belvedere and Young Munster, will also be seeking their first returns from the campaign when they meet at Anglesea Road.

Greystones opened their second division campaign with an impressive win over Malone last week, and this afternoon make the short trip to Wanderers who drew their first match away to Dolphin.

Dolphin make the journey to Kilternan to play DLSP who also got a point from their initial outing against Monkstown Monkstown travel to City of Derry, who lost to Skerries, and Skerries, face a tough assignment away to Sunday's Well who made a winning start to their campaign with an away win against NIFC.

NIFC visit Bective Rangers, who opened their promotion challenge with a 35-11 win over Highfield in Cork. Highfield meet UCC in a Cork derby and like Highfield, UCC also lost last week away to Clontarf, who visit Malone.

In the third division, Portadown play their first match as they were not engaged last week. They must visit Galwegians, who beat their local rivals Corinthians last Saturday. Corinthians face Buccaneers, who won a high scoring match against Waterpark. The Waterford side will be at home to Collegians, who had an opening 27-7 win over Trinity College.

Trinity take on Queen's University at College Park and, having lost last week, as well as in the Colours Match to UCD when league points were also at stake, they will need to get something from this engagement against a Queen's side that beat Bangor 19-3 at Upritchard Park. Bangor face university opposition yet again, away to UCD, who lost last week to Bohemians. Bohemians are not involved in the league this weekend.

No match looks more appealing in Division Four than the meeting of Richmond and Suttonians at Richmond Park. This brings together two junior clubs promoted to the league last season. Richmond lost last week against another newly promoted club, Ballynahinch, while Suttonians marked their league debut with a home win over CIYMS.

Creggs will be playing on theirs home ground for the first time in the league this afternoon when they have UCG as visitors. Ballina are at home to Ards today. Ballynahinch will be visiting Strandhill to meet Sligo, while CIYMS will be at home to Armagh.