Buccs' battle to avoid the drop goes down to the wire

It's down to the wire on the final day of fixtures in the AIB League on Saturday which is proving to be decision day with a capital D particularly in Division 1B, with no less than 75 per cent of the teams being involved in make or break promotion or relegation matches. Among the clubs with a huge amount at stake this weekend are Buccaneers and Young Munster who battle it out at Dubarry Park (2.30pm), in what is a real 'Rugby Super Saturday' at the Athlone stadium where no less than four women's national titles will also be contested on the day. Buccs and the Cookies go head to head but from different perspectives. The Limerick side currently trail Old Belvedere by three points and will be pushing for a win that could leapfrog them into the top four play-offs should the long time leaders slip up at UCC. One can expect a typically passionate and organised effort from Young Munster who defeated Buccs in the opening round of games way back in October. Buccs were behind other clubs at that stage in respect of preparations for the season, they got little or no breaks on the day, sustained a couple of yellow cards that made a telling difference, and Munsters were somewhat flattered by their winning margin. It is surely going to be a much tighter affair on Saturday. Young Munster may be deemed a bit one dimensional by some observers, endeavouring to keep the ball in their opponents' half where their forwards will contest for every scrap. Hooker Ger Slattery captains the Greenfields outfit and he can count on support in the trenches from durable prop Ger Flaherty and the endeavours of a handy backrow trio where No 8 Neville Melbourne and the mobile Liam "g Murphy are vital constituents. However, their key operators are undoubtedly their halfback pairing of Mike Prendergast and Alan Kingsley. Scrum-half Prendergast is a Heineken Cup winner and he preserved Young Munster's Division One status last season with the final kick from inside his own half deep in added time to despatch UCD via a crossbar to Division Two instead. Now coaching the Cookies, he is a canny, vastly experienced performer who must not be allowed run the show at Dubarry Park. Meanwhile, Kingsley (long admired by Buccaneers) has been a terrific signing for the Limerick side this year. He is a tremendous placekicker and also poaches more than a fair share of tries. In their last outing against Galwegians, Kingsley nabbed a full set of scores - try, conversion, penalty and drop goal - so he cannot be afforded any leeway. Derek Corcoran is their other real threat in the backline. But Buccs were very much at the infancy stages of 'a work in progress' when the sides met on the opening day of the season. They will be much changed from that encounter, both in personnel, organisation and resilience. Three successive victories have, surprisingly, not yet secured salvation from the fear of relegation but they have restored self-belief, confidence and pride in the squad who are now a more battle hardened, focused group. With the lower half of the league table so unbelievably tight going in to this final round of fixtures, it is perhaps no bad thing that Buccs simply must go for victory and not feel that they can count of results elsewhere. Consequently, a full-blooded and committed contest is likely to unfold at Dubarry Park. With Connacht playing Bourgoin in the quarter-final of the Amlin Cup, Brian Touhy, Conor O'Loughlin or Aidan Wynne are unlikely to be available to Buccs. J.H. Potgeiter, who played so splendidly in the recent trio of wins, sustained a late, late injury against UCC that rules him out but his absence is counter-balanced by the return to the fold of the exciting John O'Brien. That is possibly the only change that Buccs will make apart perhaps from a switch in Paul Harte's partner in the centre. If Touhy is available, team mentors would surely restrict changes to the minimum with Conor Lavelle and Sean Stapleton most likely to again man the wings. Alex Hayman and Adam Kennedy's pairing at halfback has been knitting very well in recent outings with the Scottish out-half now dictating matters more efficiently and his young scrum-half partner blossoming at this critical stage of the season. This duo can certainly compete effectively with their direct opponents and provide a vital cog for the Athlone club. Up front, the battle will be hardest but the midlanders' unit is now forging into a pretty decent sector. Young props Martin Staunton and Conor Higgins along with wily hooker Garreth Halligan form a terrific front row while Stephen Burke, Colin Watters and Kolo Kiripati can match the best backrows in this division. They have been the driving force of Buccs resurgence while young locks James Tormey and particularly Padraig Burke have excelled when the going has got really tough. Captain Colm Rigney returned after injury in the centre against UCC, but where he will be located is a tough call for the mentors. However, Rigney passion and hardness will be needed against Young Munster but where best to apply it is up to team management. It will be a hard call to omit anyone on the evidence of recent displays as the squad have all responded hugely to the exhortations of David Henshaw and Charlie Couper. Buccs have been more clinical, vigorous and cohesive in recent outings and they will again need to reproduce the form that has resulted in their winning sequence. Discipline and awareness are absolute essentials against the likes of Kingsley and Prendergast. In front of what will surely be the biggest home crowd of the season, Buccs can rise to the occasion and forge the vital result in this 'Kilmartin's N6' sponsored match. Other fixtures Ballynahinch host an all-Ulster clash against Ballymena at Ballymacarn Park. Home advantage may prove crucial here for last year's Cup winners Hinch against the Braidmen who have slumped into relegation territory but that is unlikely to be enough to save the Co Down club. The third Ulster side involved in the battle to avoid the dreaded drop, Dungannon, are home to Galwegians at Stevenson Park. With Ulster the only province not in action this weekend, expect all three northern clubs to enjoy full availability of "contracted" players. 'Wegians, like UCC, are safe in mid-table but with Connacht having a huge Cup game v Bourgoin, the westerners may not have the luxury of "contracted" players. Nevertheless, Buccs will be counting on their Connacht rivals to put one over on Dungannon! Buccs must at least match Dungannon's result on Saturday. The final fixture pairs UCC and likely champions Old Belvedere.