Ballymena

Having successfully appealed to the Irish management last week in surprisingly being able to play Ireland lock Gary Longwell, Ballymena are resigned to being without him this Saturday for the trip to Garryowen. South African Cois Beukeus is expected to start in Longwell's absence. With no injuries to report, coach Andre Bester's one poser is whether to accommodate Stanley McDowell somewhere in his back three.

Harlequins

Centre Barry Dick fractured an ankle in Saturday's heavy defeat by Ballymena and is thus a long-term absentee. Chris McCarey came though his comeback game unscathed and full-back Chris Bleakley should have recovered from the bout of flu which sidelined him last weekend. Coach Brian Robinson is expected to make changes.

Galwegians

Although John Kingston declined to play either Tim Allnutt or Willie Ruane last week despite both being technically declared fit after recovering from injury, they will be in the squad for Saturday's trip to Blackrock and the Galwegians coach says "I'd have no qualms about them coming into the starting line-up." Hence, the unbeaten Connacht outfit should be at full-strength.

An interesting barometer of their current well-being is that Kingston has given his players a few days off before reconvening tomorrow. "The boys have played a lot of rugby and we've worked very hard since we came together in November. I think they could do with a rest."

Blackrock

Contracted Australian full back Nathan Turner, who trained twice with Leinster on Monday, should be back in the starting line-up after missing Blackrock's last two outings with torn quadriceps. Outhalf Alan McGowan sustained a dead leg in Saturday's defeat by St Mary's and winger Paul Noble strained a hamstring, so both are under treatment. Centre Gary Browne is still ruled out while their successful Oxford Blue of last week David Quinlan only returns from England on Saturday, but may come into the reckoning a week later.

Buccaneers

Buccaneers - without a win so far - hope to have winger Darren Yapp and centre Greg Austin, who had hamstring trouble, available again, as well as Donal Rigney, who has not been available for the last couple of weeks. Coach Brian Rigney reckons that their re-emergence should significantly strengthen the midlanders - "especially in the back-line" and the side for Saturday's visit of Shannon to Athlone will probably be named tomorrow.

Clontarf

Clontarf's French hooker Thierry Foucher returned home last night, though the club are intending to fly him back in time for Saturday's trip to Young Munster depending on the availability of flights.

Meanwhile Ben Gissing's disciplinary hearing, following the Kiwi lock's dismissal last Saturday week against Terenure, will take place tonight and so he could come back into the reckoning. Normal procedure would have meant the hearing taking place within seven days of the offence although the club voluntarily declined not to play him under the presumption that an automatic suspension would apply anyway. Clontarf have no injury concerns.

Dungannon

Paddy Johns is likely to be sidelined again with his shoulder/neck problem, while Brad Free is still back in Australia and Tyrone Howe remains hamstrung. Willie Anderson anticipates having Tony McWhirter back - given the influential number eight trained with the Irish squad on Monday.

Garryowen

Despite a few "bumps and bruises" coach Andy Earl reckons the wounds from Sunday's win away to Old Crescent are none too serious and they should be further boosted by the return of international scrumhalf Tom Tierney.

Old Crescent

No team news as such, there seemingly being no injury concerns arising from Sunday's defeat by Garryowen and they expect to be largely unchanged for Saturday's visit to Belfast Harlequins.

Shannon

Coach Conor McDermott is expecting to have Mick Galwey in his starting line-up again and likewise Anthony Foley - even though this is another unofficial `rest' weekend for the international squad players - on the premise that the Irish management want Foley to have a run-out after being sidelined for the AIL campaign thus far with a shoulder injury. While McDermott is unsure of Peter Stringer's and John Hayes' availability, they are likely to be sidelined even though Hayes has only played half a game since the Ireland-South Africa match.

DLSP

Declan O'Brien's injury nightmare continues with the news that the unfortunate Leinster flanker faces another long-term layoff after tearing knee ligaments against Galwegians at the weekend. O'Brien came on as a replacement and then suffered the damage in a tackle. Apart from the usual miscellany of minor injuries, coach Phil Werahiko should have everyone bar the hapless O'Brien available.

Constitution

Coach Brian Hickey is awaiting fitness reports on wing Derek Dillon, who injured a thigh in last weekend's game, and prop Ian Murray who damaged a thumb. With the Munster squad training today, Hickey won't finalise his team for the trip to Terenure until tomorrow. Ronan O'Gara is expected to be rested once again.

Lansdowne

There is a danger that Lansdowne are threatening to rival St Mary's in the injury stakes. Reggie Corrigan (knee), Angus McKeen (hamstring), Graham Quinn (shoulder), Gabriel Fulcher (not available), Stephen Rooney (neck), Liam Toland (back) and Shane Horgan (back) are all definitely out of this weekend's game.

Terenure

Despite being forced to retire early in the first half last Saturday, hooker James Blaney is expected to have recovered from the neck injury. Although second-row Dermot Quinn is nursing a dead leg, he should be fit but centre Mark O'Kelly is very doubtful with an ankle injury.

Gary Longwell will miss Ballymena's match.