While the Irish Hockey Association's legal advisers spent the weekend poring over the fine print of last week's decision by the International Hockey Federation (FIH) to make Ireland "re-qualify" for the World Cup, the Irish players returned to training in Dublin, anxious for a resolution to the affair.
It seems they will have to wait until tomorrow, when the IHA is expected to announce whether it is taking the FIH to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
Even if the IHA accepts the FIH decision, there may still be considerable trouble ahead for the sport's governing body, not least because there is no guarantee that Lithuania and India will accept it - like Ireland they have until Thursday to lodge an appeal with CAS.
Several sources have confirmed that South Africa are less than enthusiastic about accepting the FIH's request to allow Ireland and Lithuania join the Champions Challenge in Johannesburg in February, both because of the additional costs and because the idea of "a tournament within a tournament" does not appeal.
It is also known that Germany is considering withdrawing from the Champions Challenge, thereby reducing the number of teams to seven, because the tournament clashes with its indoor season.
The challenge had to be rescheduled even before Ireland and Lithuania were added to the line-up- it was originally due to be staged in India, but was switched to South Africa because of security concerns.
"The South African side of it is out of our hands, we can only decide how we should respond to the FIH decision," said Irish coach Riet Kuper yesterday. "We still don't know exactly what will happen, it's all down to what legal advice the IHA receives.
"It is difficult for us but having trained together at the weekend we got our positive attitude back - but don't tell me that we are looking forward to going to South Africa."
Kuper also insisted that she would not entertain the thought of taking a weakened Irish squad to South Africa.
"Yes, there are problems with player availability but we hope to get them solved. But if we have to go we can only go with our strongest squad, otherwise I won't go, there would be no point."
Meanwhile, in the Irish Junior Cup, holders Enniscorthy were beaten after extra time in their first-round tie away to Church of Ireland II but Three Rock, the team they defeated in last season's final, made it through to the second round, beating Greenisland 1-0 at Grange Road.
Pembroke Wanderers are matching Hermes stride for stride in the Leinster League first division, moving level on points at the top with the defending champions after beating Genesis 3-0 yesterday.
