The only thing certain about this weekend's ESB Cup quarter-finals is that eight teams will be reduced to four. Few competitions throw up more surprises than cup basketball and any sort of firm prediction, especially based on league form, usually proves pointless.

There was no bigger surprise in the first round than Ballina's victory over the Saints. Last year, the Saints came within a basket of winning the cup outright and the ambitions this season were even greater.

Then it all came crashing at a packed Killala in October when Ballina veterans Deora Marsh and Liam McHale led the Division One champions to a 110-90 victory.

That set up tomorrow night's meeting with the Demons - possibly the most attractive quarter-final clash.

Ballina are the only non-league club in the running, but that doesn't take anything away from their chances (they are unbeaten in Division One this year and were cup winners in 1996 and 1991).

Playing on their home court and with the likes of Marsh, McHale and Paul McStay continuing to defy their age, the Demons couldn't have got more stubborn opposition.

The big rumour in Mayo approaching this game is that Chris Doyal will rejoin his former club as the second American. They already have Terry Smith and Canadian Paul Barrett, but the Demons, currently stuck in the middle of the league table, have some big hitters of their own, especially Tobe Carberre.

Notre Dame claimed their fourth cup last season and are now just three games away from an unprecedented fifth. They travel to Limerick tomorrow and player-coach Anthony Jenkins has made no secret about his team's ambitions this season.

The sides met at the same stage last season, with Notre Dame coming out easy winners, and although the Dublin team has been heading the league this season, Limerick have also enjoyed a consistent start.

On Sunday, it's the turn of defending league champions Neptune to test the form of Killester. Neptune were one of those sides that made a surprise round one exit last season, despite their outstanding league run.

That leaves the meeting of Tolka Rovers and joint league leaders Waterford. who have displayed their best league form in many years and should stay on course for their first ever cup victory.

The women's quarter-finals are a little more predictable. The Wildcats are sure to prove too strong for non-league Firhouse Notre Dame, and it's the same scenario with Meteors and the University of Limerick, who should by-pass non-league Glanmire and Drimnagh respectively.