Midleton, Ardscoil Rís, and Thurles, given they reside in four-team groups, are assured of quarter-final spots. Nenagh, part of a three-team group, must wait to find out which of the table-toppers from the three three-team groups gets the fourth and final ticket direct to the last eight.

The remaining two group winners from these smaller groups, along with the second-placed team from across the six groups, will contest the preliminary quarter-finals.

Starting from the top in Group 1, Christians will take second spot behind Midleton should they overcome Rice College, Ennis. A draw will also suffice for the Cork city school.

Peter O’Shea was outstanding for CBC during their four-defeat to Midleton CBS last time out. The midfielder accounted for 0-8 - all from play - of their 0-18 total. And while they’ll again lean on the Erin’s Own youngster for leadership and white flags, more of their front six must make a greater impression on the scoresheet.

For opponents Rice College to jump from fourth into the top half of the table, they must inflict a second successive defeat on Christians and ensure their margin of victory is four points greater than any Doon win over Midleton CBS.

In Group 2, Thurles versus winless Pobalscoil Na Tríonóide, Youghal is a deadrubber. All eyes will instead be on the winner-takes-all clash between 2022 champions St Joseph’s Tulla and St Colman’s College, Fermoy. That game is scheduled for the UL North Campus (11.45am).

Fermoy have the momentum here. They bounced back from their opening round setback against Thurles to record an eight-point win over Youghal. Liam Foley, Seán O’Donoghue, Ciarán O’Leary, and Fionn Lardner will hope to continue their scoring form and the school’s winning form.

The meeting of St Flannan’s and Harty newcomers Coláiste Choilm Ballincollig (Banteer, 2pm) is the standout Group 3 fixture. Victory for Flannan’s secures them a preliminary quarter-final berth, irrespective of what happens between Ardscoil Rís and De La Salle College, Waterford.

The Ennis college arrive into the group-deciding game off a narrow win over Da La Salle. Ballincollig, meanwhile, shipped a 12-point beating to the Limerick nursery last time out.

Unless De La Salle spring an upset against Ardscoil Rís, a first group win for Coláiste Choilm will lift them from fourth to second. 

Eoin Dwyer, Daniel Murphy, Josh McCarthy, and Johnny Galvin are the students Ballincollig will look to deliver an extension to their maiden top-tier campaign.

Group 4 sees a straight shootout between Charleville CBS and Hamilton High School Bandon for second place. This all-Cork clash is the opening game of the Banteer double-header and has a 12 noon start.

By virtue of the fact that Nenagh CBS got it far harder to find a way past Charleville than Hamilton HS Bandon, the Tipp school had four to spare over the former and 13 on the latter, Charleville are fancied to take the knockout place on offer.

For Groups 5 and 6, calculators will likely be required. John the Baptist Community School can avoid the need for mathematics with their second victory at Carrick-on-Suir’s expense. 

But if Carrick-on-Suir manage a first win, they’ll leapfrog Castletroy College into the knockout spots. The +7 score difference of John the Baptist CS means they would need to lose by 13 points to fall from first to third.

In Group 6, champions Cashel Community School simply must overcome group leaders Our Lady’s Templemore to keep their title defence alive. 

A first victory for last year’s first-time champions will be enough to take them out of bottom place in the three-team group. Were they to win by four or more Gaelcholáiste Mhuire an Mhainistir Thuaidh would remain in second spot and Templemore would exit.