SHANNON, the defending champions, who regained leadership of the first division of the Insurance Corporation All Ireland League last Saturday, will be at full strength when they meet Old Belvedere at Thomond Park on Saturday.

Shannon will field an unchanged team from the side that defeated Old Wesley last Saturday. Belvedere, who gained their second win in the league by defeating Instonians, make one change. Ray Ward returns at tight head prop for Stephen Groarke.

Garryowen, in second place in the premier division, field the side that defeated Cork Constitution last Saturday week for the visit to Lansdowne. This means that Killian Keane, who played so well against Constitution, stays in the centre and Barry Everett retains the outside half berth.

Lansdowne have named their captain Brian Glennon in the centre and fellow international Eric Elwood at outside half. Both are under treatment for injuries, Glennon (shoulder) and Elwood (ankle). Glennon's selection is based more on hope than confidence that he will be fit.

If Glennon is ruled out, Alan Reddan will move into the centre and Peter Dervitch will play on the wing. Colin McEntee comes into the back row for P. J. Farrell.

St Mary's, in third place two points behind Shannon but with two matches in hand, travel to meet Young Munster. St Mary's will announce their side this morning but it is anticipated that it will be unchanged from the team that defeated Blackrock last Saturday week.

Young Munster have a doubt about flanker Ger Earls, who has a shoulder injury. If Earls is ruled out, Ian Dillon will come into the back row.

Cork Constitution, the fourth team still in contention for the title, will be without their international second row Gabriel Fulcher for the visit of Ballymena. Fulcher will play out the season with London Irish, but has made no commitment to the London club beyond that.

Constitution decided to defer selection of the back five until after a training session last night. The back line that faced Garryowen has been retained but Ireland A prop Philip Soden has lost out to Ian Murray.

While Ken Murphy will be one second row, his partner is likely to be either Ultan O'Callaghan or Len Dinneen, who could be moved from the back row. Gerry Murray is among the candidates for a back row berth along with Dinneen, Victor Donnelly and David Corkery. Ballymena have deferred selection.

Blackrock take on Old Wesley at Stradbrook and make two changes from the side that lost to Ballymena last Saturday. Old Wesley have deferred selection while Blackrock have chosen Shane Hunt on the wing in place of Stephen Butler, who has a rib cartilage injury, and Max Doyle is in the back row for Rory Rogers, who was concussed against Ballymena.

Second division leaders Old Crescent field the same back line and front row that played against Greystones last Saturday, but delay selection of the back five for the visit of Clontarf who have not as yet finalised their side.

Promotion candidates Dungannon expect to have international Paddy Johns back in the second row after his visit to Hong Kong for the home tie against Wanderers. Wanderers will finalise their back five later in the week but team captain Ronnie Culliton, who has not played at first-team level since before Christmas because of a calf muscle injury, is fit again and may lead the side.

Greystones, another side with promotion ambitions, have Alan Dignam fit again and he returns to the back row for the visit to Malone. Dignam takes over from, John O'Beirne, who deputised last week but was sent off in the match against Old Crescent. Malone await fitness reports on among others, international centre, Maurice Field before completing selection.

Sunday's Well make two changes in their side for the visit to Bective Rangers. Eddie Hogan-O'Connell is named at scrum half in place of Mick Smith and Greg Tuohy, who has completed two weeks suspension, returns to the back row with Stephen Rose moving to the second row in place of Liam Ruttle. Bective leave a vacancy on the flank until later in the week. Dolphin name an unchanged pack for the home match against NIFC. but have yet to decide on the composition of the back line. NIFC did not announce a team.

Brian Stirling and David McHugh have been appointed to referee two of the Tests in the Tri-Nations competition in the Southern Hemisphere in August. Stirling takes charge of South Africa v Australia in Bloemfontein on August 3rd with McHugh and Gordon Black as touch judges. A week later McHugh will referee a repeat of the World Cup final between South Africa and New Zealand in Cape Town with Stirling and Black as touch judges.