Limerick will again assume its customary position as the heartbeat of the Irish club game this weekend when it breaks yet newer ground by hosting both of this weekend's inaugural AIB League semi-finals. Just for a change, Limerick will be the place to be.

Shannon, seeking their fourth AIL crown in succession, will host St Mary's at Thomond Park on Saturday while Garryowen will entertain Young Munster the following day at Dooradoyle; both games kicking-off at 3.30pm to accommodate live television coverage.

Shannon, unbeaten at Thomond Park in four years, and Garryowen hold slight advantages going into each game aside from hosting both matches. In the event of either game finishing level, extra time of ten minutes each way will be played. If still tied, the team with the most number of tries will progress to the April 25th final. If that doesn't separate them, then the club with the higher league position (namely Shannon or Garryowen) will be declared the winner.

The same criteria will be applied to the two legged promotion/relegation play-offs. The Division Three decider between Collegians and Richmond will be concluded in Deramore Park on Saturday, with Richmond leading by 15-8 but Collegians having scored the tie's only try thus far while they also hold the higher league position.

The play-off to decide the remaining place in Division One next season will go ahead as scheduled, with Buccaneers hosting the biggest game in the club's history in the first leg against Dungannon at Keane Park, Athlone.

However, the play-off for a place in Division Two between the Division Three runners-up Ballynahinch and either Bective, Malone or Wanderers, pending the outcome of the postponed Wanderers-Buccaneers game, has been deferred.

The League's six-man Working Party did not make any announcement following their meeting last night to discuss this issue, but it is presumed that they have referred the matter to the IRFU Executive which meets on Friday.

Shannon are the only club involved this weekend to have finalised their side. As expected, they are at full-strength and welcome back Jason Hayes at full-back, centre Rhys Ellison, scrum-half Frank McNamara, loose-head Marcus Horan, tight-head John Hayes and blind side flanker Alan Quinlan.

Coach Pat Murray admitted that the preference of McNamara over Gavin Russell, who has been first-choice for most of the season, was a "horses for courses" selection. "The last three weeks have allowed us to look at a number of players, and some guys have shown themselves to be in better form than others. Frank's slick pass gives us a different option at scrum-half."

Indeed, the selection of McNamara, coupled with the preference for the quicker Jason Hayes instead of Billy O'Shea at full-back and the recall of Lacey and Ellison, does hint at a more expansive approach from the holders. St Mary's too are expected to play all their big guns, with international winger John McWeeney and centre Ray McIlreavy returning to the side after missing last Saturday's win over Old Belvedere.

Young Munster have named a 20-man panel from which their starting XV will be finalised later in the week. They are intent on affording influential centre Mick Lynch every opportunity to recover from the knee ligament injury which has sidelined him in recent weeks.

Should Lynch be declared fit, then he is likely to return at the expense of Alan Honan. The other selectorial concerns for coach Brian Hickey and manager John `Packo' Fitzgerald are at full-back, where Aidan O'Halloran is likely to be selected ahead of the fitagain Stephen Tuohy, at loosehead, where South African tour hopeful Des Clohessy will presumably return at the expense of Niall Hartigan, and at number eight, where Declan Edwards, Anthony O'Herlihy and Justin O'Connell are the candidates.

Both Buccaneers and Dungannon expect to be at full strength but will delay their selections until later in the week, all the more so given that the former's coach Eddie O'Sullivan only returned from a working trip to the USA on Monday.

Likewise, Collegians and Richmond, with the latter awaiting a fitness check on centre James McCarthy will announce their sides later in the week.