Noel Shiners (51) from Limerick, sat in Rody Boland's pub in Rathmines yesterday afternoon and prayed for rain. ?It's going to be very close, the two teams are very tied and it could go either way, " he shook his head, before brightening up. But if it rains, well, Munster will have the edge. They're much more used to playing in the rain. That could win it for us."

Shiners was one of the lucky few who had his hands on a couple of tickets, but he has to entertain visitors today and gave the tickets to his nephew. He's a lucky man, " he says, adding, I'll be watching it here in Rody Boland's all the same."

Never before has a clash between age-old rivals Munster and Leinster attracted so much hype. Eight years ago a provincial clash between the sides attracted less than 500 people to the rugby match in Limerick. This year, the race for tickets has reached manic proportions. With just 46,000 tickets up for grabs, pairs of tickets have been changing hands at 1000plus.

Even online auction site Ebay has joined in the madness, with sellers demanding hundreds of euro for a single ticket, and eager punters out-bidding each other furiously for the privilege of standing in Lansdowne Road this afternoon.

The mass exodus from Munster began yesterday morning, with special trains put on by Iarnrod Eireann to accommodate the thousands of Munster fans expected in Dublin this weekend. 21,000 are due to attend the match and many more are expected to travel to the capital without a match ticket, which has led to trains, planes and B&Bs reaching near-maximum capacity.

The 2006 census, also taking place today, is by far the secondary event of the day for rugby fans from both provinces. Indeed, Munster will almost certainly have a distorted result, despite pleas by Limerick Lord Mayor Diarmuid Scully for fans to come home in time to be counted.

Win or lose, Munster fans are more likely to be propping up a Dublin bar tonight than dashing back to the homeland to fill in their census form.

Kiely's of Donnybrook were yesterday bracing themselves for the onslaught of fans expected that evening. ?Give it a couple of hours in here and it will be packed out, " said a barman. As for tomorrow, it's going to be crazy."

Supporters have lost it already, especially in Munster. Not only have dedicated fans been decking their houses in red in order to win match tickets, they have also turned to an ancient painting, which they believe will bring them a win this afternoon.

'Stella', a portrait that has been hanging in the Limerick City Gallery of Art since 1948, has taken on a charmed status, leading rugby supporters to leave memorabilia, notes and prayers underneath her in the hopes that she will bring them a victory.

Thought to have been painted by Irishman Charles Jarvis in the 18th century, 'Stella' has been dubbed 'the miracle of Limerick' because of her supposed healing properties. Legend tells of an injured Munster rugby player visiting the portrait before the 1978 All-Blacks game. He returned to full fitness and Munster went on to beat the New Zealand team.

It's a lovely portrait that now has what is like a little altar all around it, with a little Munster flag and notes and prayers, " said Sheila Deegan, of the Limerick City Council arts section. A myth has been fabricated about her and her healing properties and it shows the power that art can have over everyone."

Whatever power 'Stella' may or may not have, feelings have run so high in the run-up to the Leinster Vs Munster match that supporters are willing to try anything to ensure their victory.

We have had lots of visitors to this portrait, " said Deegan. Such is the passion for Munster at the moment that people will do anything to make sure we win. Whether it's paying a visit to the gallery to a lucky painting, or going to church to say a few prayers, we'll do whatever it takes to win this match."