BECTIVE will be cursing their bad bout of profligacy over the last month as they face Clontarf at home this weekend in a game that could decide the final places in division two. If Clontarf win the match at Donnybrook they will be assured of promotion to division one.

The prospect of also clinching the title as the top team will have to wait until next week where Dublin's northside club plays Greystones at Castle Avenue in the last game of the campaign.

Clontarf are unlikely to change a team that has been very impressive and are justifiably sitting on top of the table. A few knocks have been reported, largely due to the hard ground, but nothing has caused any serious concern. The Bank holiday has forced the increasingly cautious clubs to defer selection until later in the week with Clontarf and Bective being no exception.

Bective, though, have a number of injuries that they hope will have cleared up by Saturday. Second row Kevin Murphy is hoping to return after injuring his back white scrum-half Des Jackson, who also missed last week's match, is fighting against a knee injury. Shane Buckley, who was unavailable last Saturday, returns to out-half. If Bective lose the game, they still have a chance of gaining promotion next week in their final game against UCC, a match that they must win.

At the other end of the spectrum, City of Derry, Highfield and North have got themselves into a twist that makes their final series of matches an end game of some significance.

Derry have to win two of their three remaining matches (an earlier game against DLSP was postponed because of a flooded pitch) to ensure that they stay in division two while Higlified, on two points, have to do the same.

The Cork side are hosts this week and a defeat by the Ulster team would certainly mean relegation. Derry lost last week to an injury-time penalty and feet that they are capable of much more than they have delivered.

"We played reasonably well against UCC last week," said coach Gerald McCarter. "Unfortunately we made too many mistakes. So many simple errors that gave them a ray of hope. That's been typical of the season so far. But we've suffered no heavy defeats. They've all been close enough. Against the students we were 20-7 up at one stage and they kicked a penalty from close to the halfway line in the fourth minute of injury time to win - it was a cracker for them."

UCC, who are now safe, meet Sunday's Well but have a number of injury worries. Prop John O'Driscoll is doubtful because of knee ligament trouble while full back Colin Healy didn't play last week and is also doubtful. Hooker Frank Sheehan is also likely to be out because of a virus which forced him to leave the field during last week's game. Not so serious are the knocks picked up by out-half John O'Mahony and wing forward Donncha Murphy, who hope to line out.

Sunday's Well are waiting to see how wings Brian Roche and John Lacey are recovering and their availability could change the shape of the back line. They also hope that Jim Cutriss will be able to lend his strength to the pack after injuring his shoulder against Derry two weeks ago.

Greystones, who have selected, have not yet decided who will replace left wing Andrew McLean who is off to Australia for the summer months while Ross Doyle comes in as flanker to replace John O'Beirne.

A shoulder injury carried into last week's game against Monkstown was further aggravated by O'Beirne and he is definitely sidelined for the game against Dolphin.