Champions Cork Constitution will be without full back Brian Walsh and centre Conor Mahony for today's clash with Garryowen at Temple Hill, a repeat of last season's AIB Division One league final. Both are injured thereby forcing a reshuffle in the back-line.
Munster inter-provincial John Kelly is once again asked to display his versatility in moving from the wing to the centre where he will partner Cian Mahony. Former Loughborough University student Derek Dillon comes in at full-back with Darragh Moran named on the left wing. Anthony Horgan switches to the right.
Donnacha O'Callaghan moves to the second row where he will partner Mick O'Driscoll. John Fogarty, ostensibly the reserve hooker, fills the vacancy at flanker, a role he performed on occasion with distinction last season.
Garryowen must do without Ireland internationals Keith Wood (shoulder) and Killian Keane (hand). Barry O'Neill continues alongside Kevin Hartigan in the centre while Pat Humphreys is a very able deputy for Wood in a Garryowen side that shows five changes from the team that lost last year's final to Con.
Shannon provided seven players to Munster's starting XV for the recent European Cup match against Colomiers - eight when John O'Neill came on - and by virtue of the heavy demands placed on those players, coach Rhys Ellison has decided to delay naming the team until noon today.
There are the usual bumps and bruises to contend with, the most serious doubts surrounding the fitness of John Hayes and Anthony Foley. Jim Galvin, who played a friendly against Lansdowne recently, will start at out-half with Conor Burke in the centre.
Opponents Young Munster are without the injured Peter Clohessy, a familiar handicap this season. His brother Des takes over at loose-head in a front row that includes Mark Hayes and Mick Fitzgerald. Flanker Brian Buckley twisted an ankle in training and is replaced by Ger Earls. The match is a repeat of this season's Munster Senior Cup final which Shannon won after extra-time.
St Mary's College will be without Leinster forwards Victor Costello and Emmet Byrne for the visit of Buccaneers. Costello sustained rib cartilage damage in the province's European Cup victory over Stade Francais at Donnybrook while Byrne is still troubled by a back injury.
Peter Coyle moves from tight-head to loose-head with Dave Cleare coming into the front row. Trevor Brennan will play his first competitive match for the club this season when he reclaims his place at blindside flanker following a protracted spell on the sideline through injury. Frank Fitzgerald is named at number eight.
Buccaneers are unchanged from the side that defeated Con in the opening match of the campaign. Dungannon welcome back Jonathan Bell for their journey to Castle Avenue. The Irish international will play at full-back while fellow international and Ulster captain David Humphreys has recovered from the bout of flu that forced him to miss the European Cup defeat by Llanelli at Stradey Park. Clontarf have not finalised their team.
Lansdowne's impressive opening day defeat of Shannon at Lansdowne Road was all the more impressive given the absence of talented young full back Gordon D'Arcy and Leinster captain Liam Toland: both players, happily recovered from injury, are restored to the starting line-up for the short trip to Kilternan.
To accommodate D'Arcy's return Gus Hamilton moves to the centre with Ray Niland switching to the wing. Opponents DLSP make one change from the side that lost to Ballymena: Damien McCabe comes in on the right wing.
Terenure College include internationals, Girvan Dempsey and Eric Miller, both recently recovered from injury. Centre Michael Smyth is not yet restored to full health and so Shane Cullen partners David Lynagh in the centre. Derek Hegarty is expected to start at scrum-half despite a neck problem, while captain Rory Sheriff returns to the second row.
JP Sharpe takes over from Dermot Blaney at flanker. Ballymena travel to Lakelands without Ireland captain Dion O'Cuinneagain, who is enjoying the festive season in Capetown. Coach Andre Bester will make a last minute decision on scrum-half Mark Edwards (flu) and whether Derek Topping or Chris McCarey will wear the number seven jersey.
