McMahon comes in

A back injury to A international Alan Quinlan means Colm McMahon comes into the Shannon backrow for today's AIB League Division One clash with Dolphin at Thomond Park.

Quinlan suffered a slight back strain while training with the international squad on Wednesday and faces a morning fitness test to discern whether he is fit for bench duty. McMahon was a catalyst for some of Shannon's best moments last weekend and scored the all important try against Garryowen.

Coach Pat Murray makes a couple of alterations behind the scrum. John Lacey is selected at fullback, Andrew Thompson is on the right wing and Jason Hayes comes in on the other flank. Billy O'Shea drops to the bench. Dolphin have no late injury concerns.

Ballymena will not finalise their line-up until a couple of hours before kick-off as they bid to ward off a hat-trick of defeats as they face St Mary's College at Templeville Road.

Derek McAleese is definitely out, so Andy Park switches to out-half and Innes Gray comes in on the wing. Keith Gallick is also sidelined, but coach Nelie Smith has yet to decide upon the composition of his back row. He must also await a report on flu-ridden prop Rab Irwin.

St Mary's have no such selection conundrums and will be confident that they can build upon their thrashing of Lansdowne.

Cork Constitution make one change from the side which defeated Ballymena for the visit of Garryowen. Centre Niall Murray is out with a stomach upset and is replaced by Kevin Mullen.

Garryowen coach Philip Danaher will make a late decision on whether Fergie Costello or Paddy O'Grady will deputise for the absent Shane Leahy.

Old Crescent, who play host to Blackrock College at Rosbrien, make two changes for the match. Former Garryowen scrum-half Colin Forde replaces Fergal Downes, while Paul Neville is preferred to David Bowles in the backrow.

Blackrock give a first start to Under-21 international Barry Gibney because of an injury - popped rib cartilage - to New Zealander Tony Goldfinch. Gibney, who captained the Irish Schools on their unbeaten tour of Australia in 1996, enjoyed an auspicious debut last weekend. One further change sees Tom Keating named on the right wing, with Paddy Dunne dropping to the bench.

American Aaron Freeman is recalled to the Lansdowne second row in place of the injured Willie Aherne for the visit of Young Munster. The Limerick side expect hooker Mark Hayes, who came off last week, will be fit. David Walsh comes in for the injured Niall McNamara on the left wing, with Des Clohessy joining brother Peter in the front row.

Terenure College will have veteran Paul Hennebry back at number 10 when they travel to Stevenson Park. Former Irish Schools prop John Campbell replaces the injured Peter Bruce, and there is a further change in the front row with Donal Hyland deputising for Byron O'Doherty-Campbell who is unavailable.

South African number eight Garran Sheahan damaged his neck last week but the club are confident that he will be fit to play.

Clontarf are unchanged from the side which hammered Dolphin, a situation not shared by their opponents, Old Belvedere.

The latter are without Martin Ridge: Steve Sexton moves to the centre with Simon Fay on the right wing. Coach Steve Dods is injured, so they have opted to move prop Tommy Kearns to hooker, Ray Ward to tighthead, with Niall McCarthy introduced on the other side of the front row.

In Division Two, leaders Galwegians will be without Kiwi Junior Charlie. Manus Higgins deputises.