Pressure mounts as league resumes

Basketball Weekend preview: After the hugely successful cup finals in the National Arena last week the attention now switches back to the Superleague this weekend. With just five weeks left in the league, competition for the play-off spots begins in earnest.

St Vincent's received a double boost with the news that Mike Trimmers's four-game suspension was reduced to three and that Michael Chadwick returns ahead of the all-Dublin clash against Shamrock Rovers tonight.

Rovers have brought in Wayne Houston from Ballina to replace the out of sorts Chris Wiedemann. Houston impressed last weekend for the Mayo club in their cup semi-final defeat to UCC Demons, when he posted 24 points and 12 rebounds.

Killester finally welcome back Keith Friel for their match against the struggling UCD Marian. They are favourites to continue a seven-game winning run in the league, especially when you consider Marian's poor form of late.

After their nail-biting defeat in the cup final, Neptune will be keen to prove they are the country's top team by denying the Demons the double.

Dave Langrell's ankle doesn't look likely to heal in time for Neptune's clash with Tralee tomorrow's but he should be back in action for the eagerly anticipated Cork derby on February 13th. Tralee welcome back Travaris Bennett after a two-week absence.

In the women's Superleague, Killester and the Waterford Wildcats face each other tomorrow, in a match that will go a long way to deciding who will finish second behind UL.

Both teams are struggling with injury. The Wildcats won by three points in their previous encounter but without American Nicole Conway they will struggle. Killester's Suzanne Maguire will also miss the match through injury.

WEEKEND FIXTURES

Men's Superleague: Friday - Shamrock Rovers v St Vincent's, ESB Arena, 8.0. Saturday - UCD Marian v Killester, UCD, 7.10. Limerick v Waterford, UL Arena, 7.30 Neptune v Tralee Tigers, Neptune, 8.0.

Women's Superleague: Friday - Killester v Wildcats, IWA, 1.0; Tolka Rovers v St Paul's, Tolka Rovers 6.45; Glanmire v Meteors, Littleisland 7.30. Saturday - University of Limerick v Drimnagh Dynamos, UL Arena, 3.30