Buccaneers ready to make mark

Buccaneers prepare to offer a statement of intent on Saturday, aware that Shannon's visit to Ericsson Park represents a watershed, even at such a fledgling stage of the AIB All-Ireland League season.

One victory from their two games to date, albeit against reigning champions Cork Constitution augured well but in their most recent outing Buccaneers suffered a heavy defeat to St Mary's College: it is their reaction to that reverse that will offer an insight into the character and morale of the team.

Shannon are hardly the ideal opponents against whom to rehabilitate team morale, but to do so would represent a huge fillip. The Limerick club are vulnerable, having lost their opening two games, and for them victory on Saturday is vital.

Buccaneers scrum-half Steve McIvor concedes that this game could change the course of a season for both teams. "It's going to be very tough. Their qualities are obvious and they will be confident travelling here following the thrashing they gave us last season.

"But we have a little bit more to us this season, particularly behind the scrum where the arrival of Mel Deane and Conor Kilroy gives us more pace and penetration. We will obviously have to take them on up front but not all the time. We have to be more varied.

"I think we read a little bit much into our victory over Con; they were very poor. We were a small bit cocky going into the Mary's match and paid the price. Saturday is a huge game for us now."

Buccaneers coach Brian Rigney awaits a medical report on second row Gavin Webster's injury but he is named in the team. Owen Cobbe is preferred to Eamon Molloy in the centre while Donal Rigney returns to the second row and brother Colm moves to the blindside flank to the exclusion of a third brother, Des.

Shannon have not selected due to the half a dozen players participating in the two-day Irish squad training sessions. Flanker Alan Quinlan represents their most serious worry having damaged a shoulder in Munster's defeat by Pontypridd. Peter Stringer and Anthony Foley are also carrying injuries.

St Mary's have named a strong team for their trip to Dooradoyle, a venue at which they have never won. Prop Emmet Byrne is still out through injury but Trevor Brennan and Victor Costello are restored to the team. Ian Bloomer is battling a knee injury but is expected to start.

Garryowen are hoping to have Killian Keane back after a hand injury but await medical opinion on Mark Connolly (shoulder) and Barry O'Neill (knee) before selecting.

Lansdowne have omitted Irish prop Reggie Corrigan (flu) and Leinster captain Liam Toland (rotation system) from their team to face Terenure College. Enda Bohan and Shane McEntee deputise.

Shane Cullen and Mark O'Kelly must confirm their fitness before Terenure settle on the composition of their backline. Dermot Blaney returns in the backrow. Young Munster coach John Fitzgerald has named a probable XV for their game against DLSP, showing only one change from the side that defeated Shannon. Peter Clohessy replaces brother Des (twisted ankle) in the front row. Declan O'Brien and Kenny Wheelock are doubtful for DLSP.

David Humphreys (groin injury) is Dungannon's main concern ahead of their game with Cork Constitution at Stevenson Park. The visitors must check on half-backs Ronan O'Gara (knee) and Brian O'Meara but did confirm that Brian Walsh and Conor Mahony came through a seconds game last weekend.

Ballymena coach Andre Bester described the thumb injury suffered by James Topping as a "terrible blow" as the international wing will be out for five weeks. He has delayed naming his side to face Clontarf, the Dublin team awaiting fitness reports on Bernard Jackman, Tommy Kearns, Daragh McElligott and Pat Ward.

ST MARY'S: P McKenna; D Hickie, M McHugh, G Gannon, J McWeeney; F Campion, P Lynch; D Clear, P Smyth, P Coyle; I Bloomer, M O'Kelly; T Brennan, V Costello, R Doyle.

BUCCANEERS: C Kilroy; M Devine, M Deane, O Cobbe, R Lee; S Allnutt, S McIvor; J Maher, J McVeigh, M Cahill; D Rigney, G Webster; C Rigney, M Steffert, E Brennan.

LANSDOWNE: G D'Arcy; M Dillon, S Horgan, G Hamilton, R Dolan; B Everitt, D O'Mahony; E Bohan, C Egan, A McKeen; G Fulcher, B Cusack; A McCullen, C McEntee, S McEntee.

TERENURE: G Dempsey; (three quarters from): D Murphy, D Lynagh, M Smyth, M O'Kelly, S Cullen, D Martin; R Governey, D Hegarty; S Baretto, J Blaney, J Campbell; R Sheriff, C Potts; D Blaney, E Miller, P O'Malley.

YOUNG MUNSTER (probable): T Cregan; D O'Dowd, M Mullins, L Doyle, F Hogan; M Lynch, M Prendergast; P Clohessy, M Hayes, M Fitzgerald; P O'Connell, M Halloran; I Dillon, M te Pau, G Earls.