Following the defeat of Germany at Milton Keynes at the start of the season, most places have been established in the Irish under-21 squad for the European Junior Championship in Padua next August.
The interprovincial tournament at Serpentine Avenue this weekend will therefore be more focused on cross-border rivalry than individual aspirations as Leinster, particularly, aim to wrest the title from Ulster.
The Ulster squad, however, remains extremely well equipped, fielding no fewer than eight under21 internationals, of whom senior figure Chris Jackson, Gary McKee, Andrew Cousins and the captain Brian Waring will offer the utmost resistance.
Although the accomplished David Smyth has had to withdraw because of a hamstring injury, it will need an inspired performance by Leinster's young Ireland attackers, Gary Ringwood, Graham Shaw and Justin Sherriff, to achieve a breakthrough. Possibly they can force some short-corner opportunities for the province's leading marksman, Stephen Butler, to test Dale McNeill.
Munster may lack the strength in depth of the other provinces but Jason Black and John Ahern are defenders of special substance, while David Lombard and Colin Hanna can provide much fire going forward. The Combined Universities will again be short of fluency initially but, captained by senior international Mark Irwin, with Gareth Kidd and Jason Milne as his principal cohorts, they will make their presence felt.
