A pivotal match in Thomond Park on Saturday (3.0) for both Shannon and Buccaneers will probably seal the fate of one team in terms of the play-offs. While Shannon struggle to produce the consistency of the previous four years, the unsung Buccaneers have turned pre-season predictions on their head.

Promised a relegation battle at the beginning of the season, Buccaneers are just one point away from securing a place in the playoff series.

"I'd say 15 points would see us in," said a cautious Buccaneers coach Eddie O'Sullivan. Buccaneers have 14 points and a draw or win at the weekend should suffice.

"I wouldn't agree that it is the biggest match of the season. I don't think it is a game we are expected to win. Shannon have gotten their act together and for them the game is a must-win," said O'Sullivan.

"I'd prefer it to have been played in January when it was scheduled. They were creaking a bit then and they were shaken. Shannon went through the hangover of their guys involved with Munster and then they got them back in a banged-up state. It's no surprise to me that they are back in the groove. It is foolish to think they are not in with a shout. For them it is do or die.

"It's a tough assignment now having to go to Limerick although the carrot of winning is certainly a motivation. We were down to be relegated up until our game against Garryowen. But when we won that match we started looking up rather than down the table. It was a crucial one for us."

Buccaneers go into the match without the long-term injured winger Russell Southam and centre Eamon Molloy. Conor Gormley stays in the centre where he came on after eight minutes for Molloy against Blackrock while Alan Connolly comes onto the wing where he has done well against both Blackrock and Young Munster.

Shannon, who have not selected, have both Rhys Ellison and John Lacey back in training but must wait until later in the week to assess all of the available players. Mick Galwey, John Hayes, Eddie Halvey, Anthony Foley, Alan Quinlan and Marcus Horan were all involved with Ireland at one level or another over the weekend.

While the enthusiasm of the formidable Buccaneers' support might have blinded them to the possibility of their side not winning against Shannon, a final match against Lansdowne will, at least, give them another opportunity to reach the play-offs.

"You could say the game against Lansdowne will be do or die for us in our own backyard. We came through Dungannon last year when we were supposed to be dead in the water," said O'Sullivan. "It could be the scenario in which we find ourselves to be honest - ourselves or Lansdowne for the top four."

Ballymena, who face Terenure in the only other Division One game on Saturday, will be seeking to finish the league as they started and try to forget the middle. They have four games remaining and are ninth on the table.

Ballymena are without James Topping, who is with Ireland at the Hong Kong Sevens, and the injured Stanley McDowell. Jan Cunningham also faces a fitness test at the end of the week following an eye socket injury sustained playing for Ulster. Ballymena have not once fielded a full team this season.

Terenure are anxiously waiting for an assessment of the ankle injury which forced Eric Miller out of Ireland's game against Scotland while their other international player, left wing Girvan Dempsey, reports no ill effects from the Scottish match.

Prop Steve Barretto, who was brought on against the Scotland under-21 side, carries a slight injury but hopes to play while their other under-21 prop, John Campbell, is slightly doubtful, having come off at the weekend in the same game.

In Division Two, third-placed Dungannon face second-placed Malone tonight in a critical promotional battle at Stevenson Park. Malone have won the two games played so far this season and face a weakened Dungannon line-up.

Apart from David Humphreys's finger operation which will keep him out of the game for eight weeks, Ireland centre Jonathan Bell is also out of the Dungannon team. Ashley Blair comes in at out-half while Alisdair Redpath plays at outside centre for Bell.