The game offers both sides an opportunity to test out players and tactics, while it will be Greg Yelverton's first game in charge of the Colleges & Universities team following his recent appointment.
For Yelverton this is a pretty important fixture as it acts as a warm-up for upcoming internationals against the Scottish Universities, Welsh Universities, and French Universities teams. So he is taking it quite seriously.
"This will be the first time that myself and the backroom team will get to spend with the players but we will make sure that we get our message across," said Yelverton.
"The Defence Forces will provide strong opposition. I expected it to be a feisty affair and the perfect start before facing into a series of internationals."
The game is also significant for the Defence Forces, who have assembled an impressive squad under Declan Sheridan and they will be hoping to make the most of it with some tough assignments ahead.
Irish Defence Forces squad
Aidan Friel (Wexford Youths), Keith Duffy (Ballina), Barry Tourish (Castlefin), Niall Scullion (St Peters), Aidan Brown (Willow Park), Gary Stephens (St Peters), Scott Delaney (St Peters), David Long (Conninstown), Noel McGee (St Peters), Sean Poutch (Tolka Rovers), Sean Gannon (Tolka Rovers), Stephen Whelan (St Kevin's), Steven Fisher (Woodview Celtic), Keith Arnold (Drogheda), Craig Shortt (Birr Town), Jodie Dillon (Portlaoise), Mark Horgan (Avondale), Michael O'Shea (Cobh Wanderers), Gerry Walsh (Carrick United), Craig Wall (Wexford Youths), Ricky Fox (Shamrock Rovers Wexford), Lee Grace (Wexford Youths), Shane Dempsey (Northend United), James Aust (Northend United), Chris Kenny (Wexford Youths), Ken Deegan (St Heart), Dave O'Riordain (Newbridge Town), Lee Delaney (Callan)
Irish Colleges & Universities squad
Goalkeepers: Eoghan Daly (Colaiste Stiofain Naofa), Joe Coll (Galway-Mayo)
Defenders: Aaron Brilly (DIT), Daniel McGuinness (IT Carlow), Gerard O'Boyle (IT Carlow), Sean O'Mahony (UCC), Sean McLoughlin (UCC), Jack Black (DCU), Kyle McNamara (Colaiste Stiofain Naofa)
Midfielders: Sean O'Callaghan (UCC), Robert Coghlan (Colaiste Stiofain Naofa), Sam Simpson (DIT), Joe Collins (University of Limerick), Danny O'Connell (Cork IT), Eoin McGreevey (Cork IT), Jason McClellan (UCD), Shane Daly-Butz (UCC)
Forwards: Dean Broaders (IT Carlow), Jason Lyons (Athlone IT), Ross Taheny (St Patrick's College Drumcondra)
Irish Defence Forces v Irish Colleges & Universities, Monday, April 4, Collins Barracks, Cork, KO 14:30