After a three-week league break, leaders Neptune reassemble at their home stadium this evening to begin a doubleheader weekend that could see them move eight points clear at the top of the ESB Superleague table. And as the season enters the home stretch, that's an advantage none of the chasing teams will want to concede.
First on the playlist are Waterford Crystal, a team struggling to get into a mid-table placing and still shaken from the 10-point loss to Limerick over Christmas. Even with a fully-fit side available, Waterford's fairly dismal away record makes it hard to see how they can upset Neptune.
"Our away form has been a big problem for us, with only one win all season," admits coach Michael Evans. "At home we've been great, and one of the first teams to beat Neptune, so hopefully we'll have that bit of a psychological advantage here.
"We also had an excellent training session on Wednesday night. Right now, though, Neptune are in a good driving position and unless they wobble soon it will be difficult for anybody to make up the ground."
Neptune report full squad availability, with their two American players, Rasuel McKune and Jon D'Orlando, returned from a week's holiday in Boston. This game also goes out live on TG4 (9.0).
On Sunday, it's Killester's turn to make the trip to Cork to face the leaders. They welcome back Dave Weaver, a noted absentee in the loss to St Vincent's last Tuesday. Still, Neptune are likely to have the greater incentive, as another two points here would leave them on 14 wins from 16 games, and, with just 10 games remaining, that would go a long way in setting up their first title in three years.
The other main question this weekend is whether Kerry Spring Killarney and Star of the Sea, in joint second place, can curtail the daylight on Neptune. Tomorrow the Kerry side will travel to meet UCD Marian, currently next to last and hoping that new signing Mike Trimmer will add a little more strength to their home advantage.
For Star, the visit of Esat Telecom Demons tomorrow is likely to provide more challenging opposition. The Demons seem to have recovered the sort of form which saw them start the season so well, while Star, who suffered two successive defeats before the Christmas break, returned with a win over Sligo last week. Mixed injury news for the Demons is that Tim O'Halloran is probably out but Steve Hannigan is set to return.
Elsewhere, the big attraction on Sunday has St Vincent's playing host to Denny Notre Dame in what should be one of the most interesting Dublin derbies of the season. Currently tied in third place, the winners here will pick up the much-needed momentum to stay in the title battle.
In the women's Superleague, Sunday's big clash has leaders Tolka Rovers meeting the defending champions Avonmore Snowcream Wildcats in the game that could well decide the title. The Wildcats must pick up the two points here to have any realistic chance of closing down Rovers, currently four points clear.
But it won't be easy, as Rovers have both Sharon Kelly and Denise Scally back in their line-up to add further strength to the unbeaten side. And the Wildcats will be without Kate Maher, who broke her wrist in a recent schools game. Still, these two teams have always shown ability to throw up the unexpected.
