Peter Matthews, the leading Irish finisher in Ras na hEireann at Dunleer last Sunday, is likely to miss this Saturday's big international cross-country race in Belfast.

Matthews is just one of several athletes thinking of revising their schedules after running in what was described as bottomless mud at Dunleer.

Even by the most punitive cross-country standards, the going there was abnormal with many athletes complaining of fatigue after the race.

Matthews, who suffered a back injury earlier in the season, was one of them and he now believes that he needs more than a week to recover from one of the bigger physical ordeals of his career.

As a dress rehearsal for the world cross-country championship in Belfast in March, Saturday's race has obvious merits and the Dubliner will rue the lost opportunity of familiarising himself with the terrain.

Yet, in the circumstances, few will question his decision if, as seems likely, he chooses to avoid the risk of injury and keep himself in reserve for next month's national championship.

Nor is the Dundrum runner likely to be the only withdrawal from the squad chosen by BLE. The Burke brothers from Mullingar are also understood to be pondering the wisdom of competing at Stormont.

At the other end of the spectrum, Seamus Power, who showed signs of a return to his best form in finishing fourth at Dunleer, is likely to compete and the team will also include Dermot Donnelly, the talented Belfast athlete, who has opted to pursue an international career with Ireland.

Among those likely to withdraw from the women's team because of fatigue are three members of the national squad, Valerie Vaughan, Una English and Louise Cavanagh.