Of the four semi-finalists in this weekend's Champions Trophy in Banbridge, Hermes have had the longest wait for a national trophy.

Their last success was in 2008 when they won the All Ireland Club Championship, but still the Dublin side will go in to the season’s finale as favourites after being the dominant force in the league phase of the competition.

Pegasus are the reigning national champions having won the title before the new format was introduced, while Railway enjoyed a streak of success that brought them the crown in 2010, 2012 and 2013. Elks, meanwhile, have won the Irish Senior Cup for the past two seasons.

There’s a rich pedigree, then, among that trio, but none of them could get the better of Hermes in the league this season, five of their six meetings with the other semi-finalists ending in wins for Rudi Wortmann’s side, only Pegasus taking points from them in February’s 3-3 draw.

And Elks will need to produce one of their knock-out specials when they take on Hermes in the semi-finals, the students having lost 7-0 at Jordanstown in their last clash.

Railway, meanwhile, had two 1-0 wins over Pegasus in the league phase so they’ll take confidence from those results as they square up to the Belfast side in the last four.

Should Pegasus prevail this weekend it would complete a remarkable turnaround after they lost three and drew one of their opening four league games, Arlene Thompson’s charges then won 11 of their next 14 fixtures, enough to give them the runners-up spot behind Hermes.

Hermes, though, carry the burden of the favourites’ tag, the club aiming to complete an historic week, following their merger with Monkstown, by winning the inaugural Champions Trophy.

Fixtures:

Champions Trophy (at Havelock Park) Saturday: Semi-finals - Pegasus v Railway Union 10.30, Hermes v Ulster Elks 12.30

Sunday: Hockey League promotion/relegation play-off: UCC v Belfast Harlequins, 10.30. Champions Trophy final 2.45.