Gonzaga were unlucky to bow out 6-3 in the first round and Kilkenny were denied their first ever win over the champions by virtue of referee John Carvill calling back prop Kieran McArdle's try for foul play, spotted by touch judge David Keane.

Blackrock College's Fr Joe Gough said: "We hope to improve. We have to perform on the day or Kilkenny will beat us. It is as simple as that."

It is rare that the underdog gets two bites at the bone, but that could very well be the case at Donnybrook tomorrow as Kilkenny, having shed their inferiority complex, will know they can cause Blackrock some serious problems with their set piece and their tenacious work at the breakdown.

Full-back Nevil Copeland is a solid last man back. He can add more going forward.

Scrum-half Stephen Hemmingway holds a long, sharp pass and out-half Craig Ronaldson is a natural footballer with a delicate element to his game. Wings Ben Braithwaite and Craig Masterson will have to patrol the open spaces and cut down the very dangerous Jan Simon Byrne and Robert Johnson.

It will take another Herculean 70 minutes from the forwards to get the job done.

Prop McArdle, second row Wesley Carter, number eight Tim Dukelow and captain Ben Horan are aggressive in all the right areas and they must prevent Jason HarrisWright from getting up a head of steam.

Rock have lost David Tunney with a hip injury. Loosehead James Leyden will move into hooker and Kyle Cahill will come into the front row.

Leinster Schools second row Michael Cawley and number eight Jason HarrisWright will have to up their input and the half-backs Conor Crowley and Darragh Fitzpatrick will have to make better use of their three-quarter line.

Or else, the unthinkable could materialise.

BLACKROCK COLLEGE I Madigan; R Johnson, S Rogers (capt), J Ronan, JS Byrne; D Fitzpatrick, C Crowley; K Cahill, J Leyden, S Schuster, M Cawley, E Sheriff, R Ronayne, R Quigley, J Harris-Wright KILKENNY COLLEGE N Copeland; B Braithwaite, S Yates, G Rynhart, C Masterson; C Ronaldson, S Hemmingway; K McArdle, K Dagg, G Beattie, W Carter, J McAssey, M DiAlton, B Horan (capt), T Dukelow LEINSTER SCHOOLS SENIOR CUP QUARTERFINAL (REPLAY) BLACKROCK COLLEGE v KILKENNY COLLEGE Monday, Donnybrook, 3.00