The Munster Branch will have a good idea as to how many tickets will come their way for the Heineken Cup final tomorrow when the European Rugby Cup organisers will announce details of the ticket allocation and ticket pricing for the final in Cardiff's Millennium Stadium on May 25th.
In response to that, the Munster Branch will then sit down and make provisions for the best means of distributing their allocation and hope to confirm the dates for ticket sales by Friday.
Meanwhile, yesterday was the last time this week you're likely to see these four captains relax as much as they did at the AIB League final briefing at the Bankcentre. Ultan O'Callaghan (Cork Constitution), David Quinlan (Shannon), Rhys Botha (Belfast Harlequins) and Liam O'Connell (UL Bohemians) kicked back and welcomed the focus again falling on club rugby in the build-up to this weekend's Division One and Two finals at Lansdowne Road.
Shannon, attempting to win their fifth title after four successes in a row between 1994-1998, meet Cork Constitution, the league proper winners and Division One title holders in 1991 and 1999 at 4.00. The match will also be transmitted live on RTÉ.
The first ever Division Two final brings together two clubs who are relative newcomers to the AIL, Belfast Harlequins (an amalgamation of NIFC and Collegians), who chewed up most of their opposition this season and UL Bohemians. The Division Two match begins at 2.00 and also takes place on the main pitch.
In an effort to make the occasion a family-orientated affair, the back pitch in Lansdowne Road will feature marquees and musical entertainment as well as a children's entertainment area.
Ticket prices are €20 for a family ticket (two adults, four children), €12 for adult stand, €5 for terrace and €2 for school children. Cash will also be taken at the turnstiles.
It should be Cork Con captain Ultan O'Callaghan's third occasion at an AIL final, but this is the first time he has been fit enough to take part in the match. Last year, when Dungannon won the title at a gallop, O'Callaghan, the older brother of Donncha, was recovering from a hand injury, while in 1999 when they won he was also sidelined.
"You always want to go back and prove to everyone as well as to yourself that you can do it," he said. "It's nice to get an opportunity so quickly after the disappointment of last year against Dungannon. We know Jim (Williams) and Ronan (O'Gara) are out, but as yet we don't know how the other Munster players are. We'll assess the situation at training."
Due to contracted player commitments and injury, Cork Con were forced into using 36 players in this year's campaign, while Shannon's number was in the high 20s.
Both teams have around nine contracted players each so the final will also be an opportunity to see many of the European Cup final team players lining out for their clubs.
