McKenna started last year's cup final and Mahoney played the part of the impact replacement. Now, they switch jobs as McKenna is held in reserve for a late cameo. Ace kicker Noel Reid will also sit on the bench as he has not fully recovered from a virus.

As Blackrock, Terenure and Clongowes have faltered in a revealing week, St Michael's will attempt to confirm first impressions as hot favourites with prop Iain Leonard, second row Alex Byrne and loose forwards Rajan Reilly and Patrick Mallon back from last year's starting pack.

Belvedere inside centre Eoin Delaney has been ruled out with a broken nose.

Alan Kenny will come in to partner Conor Colclough in midfield. Blindside Simon Breen is back from a leg injury with Douglas Memory slipping to the bench.

StMICHAEL'S COLLEGEM O'Malley; D Marshall, R Pratt, C Cleary (capt), P Brophy; S Malone, F Mehigan; M Kelly, J Daniel, I Leonard, C O'Sullivan, S Mahoney, A Byrne, R Reilly, P Mallon BELVEDERE COLLEGE J McDevitt; N Myron, C Colclough, A Kenny, M Keating; J Moriarty, C Spelman; N Lovic, T Sexton, CJ Barry, E Browne, D White, S Breen, P Sinnott, J Slattery (capt) Verdict St Michael's CLONGOWES WOOD COLLEGE v St MARY'S COLLEGE On all known evidence, Clongowes Wood should be able to handle the pressure of replaying a match they could have wrapped up long before the final whistle at Donnybrook last Monday.

Captain Trevor Conneely is a standout forward with an insatiable appetite for physical contact and the rest of the pack isn't too bad either. Hooker Tommy Burns and prop Jack O'Connell give them a real edge in the tight.

In addition, full-back David Kearney and centre Tom Fletcher are two of the most potent runners in the competition.

Out-half Ciaran Wade offers an unusual 'Contepomi' type of heads-up threat closer to the action.

Certainly, St Mary's are improving.

The management team were known to be irate at the below-par performance in the double-scores 24-12 first round win over CUS. It looked for all the world as though the penny had not dropped for the opening 20 minutes last Monday.

They had to survive on the solidity of their defence and discipline.

Captain Shane Timmons must provide the leadership and number eight David Wilson the yardage to get them into the game early. They cannot afford to make another slow-motion start tomorrow.

The backs can use the ball. Full-back Ray Crotty is a danger on the counter.

Conor McGlade and Darren Hudson can tear holes in the tightest defences.

They key for them will be more quick ball from the forward eight and better distribution from half-back; or else they will not make the final four.

Verdict Clongowes Wood ULSTER SCHOOLS SENIOR CUP QUARTER-FINALS METHODIST COLLEGE v ROYAL ARMAGH Ulster Schools prop Adam Macklin adapted to the demands of a relatively new position at number eight when running in three tries in Methody's 593 pasting of Portadown College.

Royal will look to the awesome leadership and playing skills of Ireland Schools captain James Sandford in the second row and prop Patrick McAllister, in just his fourth match of the season, to disrupt Methody up front.

VerdictMethodist RBAI v CAMPBELL COLLEGE It doesn't get any better than this traditional Belfast derby. The exceptional Mark Jones will lead RBAI in as favourites having disposed of the touted Ballymena 21-5 in the last 16.

Out-half Josh Pentland is gaining a reputation as a smart footballer who is inclined to take the right option more often than not. Campbell will have 6'6" back five forward Gareth Rankin to add dynamism in the loose and a tall order at the line-out.

Verdict RBAI FOYLE & LONDONDERRY v PORTORA ROYAL Foyle & Londonderry will look to bridge a 20-year gap back to their last semifinal appearance and they will have home advantage to help them over the considerable obstacle that stands in their way.

Captain David Funston will oppose the massive 15-stone Portora centre James Elliot in what should be a one-onone to savour. The Royal will have hooker Nathan Judge back from a shoulder injury.

Verdict Portora WALLACE HIGH v BELFAST ROYAL ACADEMY Wallace were seen pre-cup as the weakest of the seeded schools. They managed to work through the right side of an 80 win over Regent House with flanker Stephen Knowles getting the try and captain Gary Crowe marshalling his troops.

BRA out-half Will Martin will have to get back to the kicking form that left him in the last round and he will look to bring wide-out runners Nathan Reid and Stephen Stewart onto the ball.

VerdictWallace