Henderson returns to bolster Pembroke

MEN HOCKEY/Round-up: Despite missing a few players Pembroke should find a degree of comfort from the return of their first-choice goalkeeper, Nigel Henderson, to face Instonians, in Belfast, for the second time in two weeks. Right midfield Devon Donnelly, Alan Kershaw and Paddy Goode miss out because of exams.

A win in the first of the two-leg club championship play-offs, before the tournament moves into a four-team, round-robin phase, would not quite make up for last Saturday's 2-1 Irish Senior Cup final defeat but it would set up the Dublin side for the return leg at Serpentine Avenue.

Pembroke will look for at least a draw before the return match where former international team-mates Dubliner Simon Filgas and Ulster's Billy McConnell will again face each other across the coaches dug-out. Instonians are hoping to repeat their cup and league double of 1998 as Pembroke hope to book their place in Europe for next season by retaining the title.

At Whitechurch Park Corinthians hope to face Cork C of I with a full squad. C of I, who recently went down 3-0 in the Munster Cup final to their Cork rivals Harlequins, will arrive in the knowledge they beat Corinthians 2-1 in this year's Irish Senior Cup. That alone should gel the team as they travel to Dublin.

Glenanne make their journey north to Cookstown without international Stephen Butler, who is studying for exams. Glenanne, who played without Butler in the European club championships in Gibraltar this season, expect to have him back in midfield for the return fixture next week. Their other concern, Joe Brennan, hopes to have recovered from a stomach bug in time for the game.

The final match throws together Cork Harlequins, who have a full panel available, and Lisnagarvey, at Farmers Cross, with nothing short of a win likely to be good enough for the Cork side.

SATURDAY - Men's Club Championships Quarter-Finals: Corinthians v Cork C of I, Whitechurch Park 2 p.m.; Cookstown v Glenanne, Cookstown 2.30 p.m.; Instonians v Pembroke, Malone Road 1 p.m.; Cork Harlequins v Lisnagarvy, Farmers Cross 2 p.m.