Form team Dungannon go into Saturday's All Ireland League final with their Irish international lock Paddy Johns saying his side are ready for the biggest day in their history.

Nine wins in the final 10 games of the season shot the Ulster club up to third place in the Division One tabvle, and they won 31-29 at second-placed Galwegians in last week's semi-final.

Dungannon now face Cork Constitution at Lansdowne Road (kick-off 2.30pm local) and Johns said: "This is a massive day for the club. Everyone is proud and we are going down to enjoy the day and do our best."

After winning two of their opening six matches, Dungannon looked to be heading for a relegation battle, but coach Willie Anderson has masterminded a turnaround in a season disrupted by the effects of the foot-and-mouth outbreak.

"There are a number of factors that have seen Dungannon through to the final," said Johns. "There is a good spirit at the club and, while there have been a few injuries during the season, we have a good squad of 26 or 28 players, so we have good strength.''

Dungannon won away to Cork Con in March but, according to Johns, that will have little impact on the final.

The former Saracens star, who returned home to play for Ulster last year, said: "It happened so long ago that it surely won't make much of a difference.

"Two weeks ago, we were third in the league, but now we've got a chance to go on top. Cork Con [who defeated Young Munster in the last four] have been on top all season and there's only one way they can go."

But the final is being played amid continuing doubts over the future structure of Irish rugby.

Men like Johns, Jeremy Davidson and Rob Henderson are returning "home" to Irish Rugby Football Union contracts that will see them turning out predominantly for the four provincial sides and Ireland.

Munster, Ulster and Leinster will take part in next season's Heineken Cup, and together with Connacht are set to kick off the new expanded Celtic League on 18 August.

In addition to Ireland's busy programme of Tests, that leaves little or no room for any All-Ireland League commitments.

"I think this is probably the last of the big games of club rugby," said Anderson. "I believe that the Celtic League will take the standard up another notch and maybe in a couple of years time we'll have a British league in which all the English clubs are involved as well.

"In realistic terms that's what we want to have."

Both Anderson and his Cork Con counterpart Brian Hickey will announce their teams on Saturday. Hickey wants to give his captain, Ultan O'Callaghan, the maximum amount of time to recover from the broken knuckle he sustained last month against Blackrock.

"I'll probably announce the team at 29 minutes past two," said Anderson.

Hickey replied: "And I'll announce at 29 and a half minutes past two."