It's a busy pre-Christmas period for the Hockey League competitors with three games over the next three weekends.

By that point they will have passed the halfway point of the group stage of the competition.

As of now, Hermes, Ulster Elks and Railway Union are filling the top three places that would guarantee qualification for the end-of-season Champions Trophy, with Pembroke Wanderers in fourth – that position would be enough to secure a semi-final place if one of the top three also wins the Irish Senior Cup.

The meeting of Hermes and Pembroke at Booterstown tomorrow is, then, the pick of the five fixtures, Hermes looking to make it eight wins out of eight while Pembroke, after a rollercoaster start to their campaign, will be seeking their third victory on the trot.

Elks and Railway, both seven points behind Hermes, have home ties, the Ulster students up against Greenfields, who are still seeking their first point, while Railway host a revived Pegasus who have won their last three games having failed to win any of their opening four.

It’s an all-student affair at the Mardyke where UCC meet UCD, both teams outside the top five and desperately in need of a win. The same applies to Ards and Cork Harlequins, marooned in the bottom four, who meet up north.

Hockey League : Tomorrow: Ulster Elks v Greenfields, UUJ, 1.0; Hermes v Pembroke Wanderers, Booterstown, 2.0; UCC v UCD, The Mardyke, 2.0; Ards v Cork Harlequins, Ards Park, 2.30; Railway Union v Pegasus, Park Avenue, 2.30.