Top of the league clubs face off for pride of place

AIB LEAGUE PREVIEWS: Blackrock College v Cork Constitution(2.30), Stradbrook. It is the match of the day with the second-placed club hosting the league leaders and AIB Cup finalists Cork Con. Given the strength of the respective backlines this could be a high-scoring tussle. Loser here could drop out of top four in one afternoon. Verdict: Blackrock.

Clontarf v Buccaneers, Castle Avenue. Clontarf simply cannot afford to lose if they want to push their way into the play-offs; a bonus point would be very useful as the season reaches its conclusion. Mathematically Buccaneers can make the top eight; realistically they can't. Verdict: Clontarf.

Garryowen v Ballymena, Dooradoyle. The Limerick club are looking to maintain their place in the top four while Ballymena would still nurse ambitions of being on the right side of the Division One cut-off point at the end of the season. Garryowen look better equipped at home today. Verdict: Garryowen.

Shannon v Old Belvedere, Coonagh. It's a similar pretty much the same situation here ast in the Garryowen-Ballymena tie.The home side are looking to make the play-offs while the visitors can still make the top eight teams for next season but simply have to win this match. Shannon, despite some injuries, to win. Verdict: Shannon.

St Mary's College v Galwegians, Templeville Road. Connacht's game will have robbed the visitors of a little of their potency. Mary's can still make the top four but to do so they would need to win all their remaining games with bonus points. Verdict: St Mary's.

Terenure College v Dungannon, Lakelands. The Ulster club need to keep winning to keep some daylight between themselves and Munsters – they have a game in hand – in third and second last place in the table. Playing against the bottom team in the table, Dungannon must win, but their hosts are not as bad as the table suggests. Verdict: Dungannon.

UCD v UL Bohemian, Belfield. UL can win this Students showdown. The visitors are five points clear of ninth place in the table and need to keep on winning. Verdict: UL Bohs.

Young Munster v Dolphin, Tom Clifford Park. It's not that Dolphin's need is greater; it's just that they are a better team. Dolphin are in fourth place in the table on points' difference and to make the play-offs will have to win all three remaining games. Verdict: Dolphin.