LEINSTER aim to drive home their supremacy in the Interprovincial Championship at Serpentine Avenue this weekend.

Seven members of Avoca's triumphant Irish Senior Cup side are joined by five Pembroke figures as well as Liam Canning, Dessie Farrell, Paul O'Brien and Paul Fitzpatrick in a Leinster squad which will be expected to retain the title recaptured so earnestly in Cork a year ago.

Ulster, without Martin Sloan, Jimmy Kirkwood, Daniel Clarke and Alan Dowd, are again in the process of redevelopment. There will probably be a stronger performance than that conceded in the 5-2 defeat by Leinster last season, for the battling Robbie Taylor, Neil Cooke, Paul Hollway and not least Robin Madeley have pride to restore while Ivan Steen, Chris Jackson and David Smyth have become new recruits to be highly respected.

Leinster, however, are finely honed from their training tour to Germany while Canning and Jamie McBride should be particularly refreshed after the Easter break to strike decisively, especially if Galahad Goulet has recovered sufficient energy to break the cover. While some of the Avoca contingent may be feeling the effects of their gruelling conquest of Lisnagarvey, coach John McInerney no doubt will make valuable stamina-saving substitutions (as indeed did Simon Filgas last Sunday).

Neither Leinster nor Ulster, though, can afford to underestimate the challenge of Munster who earned draws with both provinces at Garryduff last year. In fact, it was only in the last minute that Canning converted a penalty stroke to save a crucial point for Leinster.

While the enigmatic Graham Todd is missing from the Munster ranks, much force is bound to come from Robbie Ryan and Alastair Dunne in midfield to provide opportunities for the young striking force. Equally, not much will be yielded in defence, with John Ahern coming in to join the Ger Burns academy, now including all three Bateman brothers, Ivan, Wesley and Alan.

An extra incentive for many of the participants is to make a claim for places in the Ireland squad to play Spain, Argentina and the US in Barcelona next month - another surprise from the IHU.