Although Leinster will be missing half a dozen leading figures from the squad which won the title last season, they will be determined to salvage a point from their opening game in the Interprovincial Championship against Munster at Garryduff tomorrow.
It would seem, in the absence of Justin Sherriff (abroad) and Gordon Elliott (injured), that Leinster will be short of firepower, but even without Devin Donnelly, they remain powerful in midfield through Paudie Carley, Alan Browne and Stephen Butler while the front runners, Graham Shaw and John Goulding, are adept at forcing penalty corners.
The issue may well hinge on set pieces, for Munster in their 1-1 draw with Ulster in Dublin earlier in the month, created few open-play opportunities and were relying on David Eakins to score from drag flicks.
It is bound, though, to be a low-scoring game, for the country's top two goalkeepers, Nigel Henderson and Wesley Bateman, are in vintage form.
Henderson may be more stretched initially before a revamped Leinster defence (without Galahad Goulet and Richard Beere) gets to grips with the assignment. It may be an opportunity for Joe Brennan and David Bane to show their capabilities.
The same continues to apply to Munster's under-21 internationals, notably David Hobbs, who missed the match against Ulster because of a knock sustained in the Junior World Cup in Tasmania.
He has recovered to give fresh vigour to the home side's midfield sector, which will be particularly welcome if Nigel Buttimer is unable to play due to an ankle injury from the Ulster game.
Familiarity is going to be a feature of tomorrow's match, for in addition to the four sets of brothers in the squads, the two umpires, Ger Burns and Andrew Groves, will be keeping a brotherly eye on defenders Karl Burns of Munster and Brian Groves of Leinster.
MUNSTER (squad): W Bateman (Cork Harlequins), M Ruddle (Cork C of I); A Chambers ( C of I), J Hobbs (Harlequins), K Burns (C of I), J Black (Harlequins), D Hales (C of I), D Hobbs (C of I), M Black (C of I), P Lombard (Harlequins), N Buttimer (C of I), A Dunne (C of I), D Eakins (Harlequins), E Gash (Harlequins), J Jermyn (C of I), J Ahern (Harlequins). Coach: S Jackson; manager: J Fletcher.
LEINSTER (squad): N Henderson (Pembroke Wanderers), C Henderson (Corinthians); B Groves (Monkstown), D Shaw (Glenanne), J Brennan (Glenanne), A Bothwell (Three Rock Rovers), F de Rosa (Pembroke), D Bane (Aer Lingus), P Carley (Pembroke), A Browne (Glenanne), W Powderly (YMCA), S Butler (Glenanne), D Jenkins (Monkstown), G Shaw (Glenanne), J Goulding (Glenanne), A Giles (Pembroke). Coach: C Stewart; assistant coach: N Keogh; manager: R Walsh.
Umpires: G Burns, A Groves.
