New faces but a similar story

Basketball/Weekend preview: The Superleague returns tonight with plenty of changes in the wind as the importees again become the focus of attention.

Several of the foreign brigade have drifted on, as the Irish league remains a stepping stone for the mercenary element, but, as ever, there is a positive side.

The best example is with the defending champions Tralee Tigers, who lost Brandon Mason, Chris Bracey and Travaris Bennett in the off-season, only to replace them with two more Americans and an Irish Australian in Luke O'Hea, while Liam Brosnan and Declan Wall have been bumped up from St Mary's, Castleisland. One of the Americans is also their new player coach, Chris Craig. Their season starts on Saturday evening with the visit of St Vincent's.

The Cork contingent, the UCC Demons and Neptune, will again be challenging for honours, but they are also looking to replace the inspirational Torrey Butler and Dave Langrell, respectively. Neptune face Limerick, with the Demons entertaining university rivals UCD Marian.

The first match is tonight with the all-Dublin affair of Shamrock Rovers Hoops and Killester at the National Arena. The Hoops have lost the highly influential Anthony Jenkins and Ron Bruton, but they too have raided the American college circuit, and picked up two from the now defunct Tolka Rovers in Joey Haastrup and Eoin Darling.

After an absence of six years, Ballina return to Superleague action with several household GAA names on board (Liam McHale, Paul McStay, and, more recently, Ronan McGarrity) for the trip to Waterford.

On the women's front, the dominance of UL Aughinish looks set to continue as they have strengthened their roster ahead of their opener against the Drimnagh Dynamos. Irish international Nessa O'Keeffe, Orla Dempsey and American Stephanie Graff all come in.

MEN'S SUPERLEAGUE

Tonight: Shamrock Rover Hoops v Killester, ESB Arena, 8.30.

Saturday: Neptune v Limerick, Cork, 5.0; Star v Shamrock Rovers Hoops, UU Jordanstown, 7.15; UCD Marian v Mardyke UCC Demons, Belfield, 7.30; Waterford v Ballina, Waterford IT, 6.0; Tralee Tigers v Roma St Vincent's, Tralee SC, 8.0.

Sunday: Killarney Lakers v Roma St Vincent's, INEC, 1.30; Limerick v Waterford, UL Arena, 3.15.

WOMEN'S SUPERLEAGUE

Saturday: Meteors v Glanmire, Naomh Olaf's, 6.45; UL Aughinish v Drimnagh Dynamos, UL Arena, 7.0; Coolock v St Paul's, Mercy Beaumount, 6.30.