AN unchanged Lansdowne side from the one that ran in 10 tries against Trinity last week cannot pretend they are anything but firm favourites on their home ground at Lansdowne Road today (3.0).

While scrumhalf Dave O'Mahony may be forced to do a fitness test to prove the dead leg he received against Terenure has come back to life, Lansdowne have a confident Ian Murphy waiting in the wings. O'Mahony, incidently, was this week voted player of the year by his peers in Lansdowne.

Bective last won the trophy in 1962 with Lansdowne's most recent success coming in 1991, the year current coach Paul Clinch captained the side. Bective also line out with the team that defeated Skerries in the midweek replay and will hope to start today in the way they played the second half against Skerries.

Still, something more will be needed to curb Lansdowne. Eric El wood scored a wonderful try, towards the end of the game against Trinity and his kicking both from set pieces and during play was excellent.

Kurt McQuilkin, too, demonstrated irrepressible form in the centre and an unerring ability to always get beyond the gain line. With a strong pack and good runners out wide, it will be Bective's job to stop Lansdowne first and then try to fathom how to beat them. The task is enormous.