However, instead of relief read belief, for St Michael's have truly evolved as this competition has gone on.

Despite the legacy of early defeats and thwarted hopes in recent years, as well as concerns over their size before the competition began, they have played some thrilling running rugby throughout this campaign, demonstrating both class and resilience.

Placed in the supposedly open side of the draw . . . with their opponents pulled out with champions Belvedere on the other . . . they made a mockery of that preview as they have stormed through three games. Ably directed by out-half Andrew Cummiskey throughout, they had Pres Bray and St Mary's beaten by half-time in the first round and semi-final respectively.

Despite such emphatic performances against two extremely competent teams, their most impressive performance perhaps came in the quarter-finals. Removing an important psychological block in beating old rivals Clongowes 16-13, more importantly they displayed an inner steel that had been presumed lacking to hold off a late onslaught.

Just as well, for they will need to find deep reserves against Blackrock. Having made a slow start due to injuries to their star quartet of David O'Connor, Ian Madigan, Luke Fitzgerald and later Vasya Artemiev, the 64-time winners struggled past a relatively weak Terenure before breezing past Kilkenny in a mismatch in the quarterfinals. However, against Belvedere last Friday, they finally clicked. Reinstalling their first-choice back line they gained revenge for last year's final with a hugely impressive display. The score only 17-6, it could have been up to 30 as they cut through the renowned Belvedere defence at will. Fumbling just before the line on more than three occasions, a week should be enough, however, to get rid of any remaining rustiness among the backs.

And unfortunately for Michael's it is through the backs that this game will most likely be won. With Blackrock arguably possessing their finest ever line of ball-carriers in the Senior Cup . . . admittedly a grand claim . . . the only way to beat them appears to be denying them ball, just as Belvedere did in last year's final through a percentage kicking game.

Michael's lack a sufficiently formidable pack to play that sort of game however.

Their main strength is flowing rugby, just like their opponents, and that should at least mean the last final at the old Lansdowne Road will be an attractive one. But that . . . literally . . . will just play into Blackrock's hands. To stand a chance, Michael's will have to get every move spot on and hope Blackrock have an unusual off day. Hard to see their third time in the final being that lucky.

Verdict Blackrock POWERADE LEINSTER SENIOR CUP FINAL ST MICHAEL'S v BLACKROCK COLLEGE Lansdowne Road, Friday, 3.30 Live, Setanta, 3.10