Ulster’s Jake Flannery gets his first game time in the 2024/25 season as he turns out for in-form Ballynahinch at Lansdowne on Saturday.
The out-half has been nursing a troublesome finger injury but has been given the go-ahead to play as second-placed Hinch bid to make it four straight wins in Division 1A.
Hinch also have regular releases Aaron Sexton and Conor McKee, while Zac Ward gets another outing after scoring in the previous outing against Garryowen.
Paul Kerr makes way for Flannery in an otherwise unchanged Hinch backline, with Mark Best and George Pringle in midfield.
Meanwhile, club stalwart and former Ulster prop Kyle McCall has been forced to retire with immediate effect due to a hamstring injury sustained in the previous AIL game against Garryowen.
Elsewhere in the division, City of Armagh, eighth in the table, will be aiming to back up their victory at Terenure when they host Cork Constitution.
In 1B, ninth-placed Queen’s University are on the road to Nenagh, who are in second, with Derek Suffern’s squad needing to improve on two wins from five games.
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Instonians are hosting Old Crescent for their 2A clash after coming off a narrow defeat at Corinthians where Paul Pritchard’s fourth-placed squad had three tries disallowed.
“A few things didn’t go our way; on a different day, we could have come away with five points,” said Pritchard.
“We have to bring that level of intensity and performance from the first 40 minutes into every game now until the end of the season.”
Also in 2A, Banbridge are at home to Greystones and Ballymena go to Buccaneers.
Second-placed Dungannon travel to 2B leaders Wanderers for what should be the division’s game of the day, while Clogher Valley have a home fixture with Malahide and Malone hit the road for Skerries.
Rainey host Sligo looking to make it two wins on the spin as the Magherafelt club bid to improve on seventh spot.
Though missing a few bodies, Rainey do have Tommy O’Hagan, Mark Lee and Jack Hardy all available for the must-win encounter.
In 2C, fourth-placed Belfast Harlequins meet leaders Dolphin at Deramore and Ballyclare, who are third, host Clonmel.
Omagh, down in eighth, are at Enniscorthy.
FIXTURES
Division 1A: City of Armagh v Cork Constitution, Lansdowne v Ballynahinch
Division 1B: Nenagh Ormond v Queen’s University
Division 2A: Banbridge v Greystones, Buccaneers v Ballymena, Instonians v Old Crescent
Division 2B: Clogher Valley v Malahide, Rainey Old Boys v Sligo, Skerries v Malone, Wanderers v Dungannon
Division 2C: Ballyclare v Clonmel, Belfast Harlequins v Dolphin, Enniscorthy v Omagh Academicals