Unbeaten records at stake

Although Vikings, Neptune and Waterford are still unbeaten in the Superleague, the bank holiday schedule means that, at most, only two of those teams will hold on to that distinction, as Waterford take on Neptune tomorrow evening at the WIT.

While Star of the Sea and UCD Marian top the league on 10 points, both sides have played a game more than the three perfect records beneath.

Both the Cork and Waterford sides are on form, and tomorrow evening's game may test the true strength of Crystal as title contenders.

The home side will again look to their American pair of Roscoe Patterson and Eric Blair to guide their younger players, Dean Kavanagh and Darren Sealy. Patterson and Blair have averaged over 20 points a game for Waterford, who also have to travel to Sligo on Monday for game two of the weekend.

At the other end of the table, Killarney continue to struggle, having been tipped as contenders at the beginning of the season. New blood in the form of Joe Warnke will line out for Killarney against Tolka Rovers and Limerick over the weekend. Warnke was released by Killester this week.

Denny Notre Dame sit comfortably in mid table - not the place they had planned to occupy at the beginning of the season. Their title ambitions could be put back on track at home to Blue Demons tomorrow and away to the Vikings on Sunday. Again, Notre Dame will look to Darren McGuinness whose form swung victory for them last weekend against Killester in the dying seconds.

Stephen McGuirk is still injured for Marlborough Saints, who face Demons on Sunday and Killester on Monday, while Dungannon have signed a new American, Gary Nottingham, a 6 ft 7 in rookie from Georgia. Formerly from the University of Texas, Nottingham made his debut on Wednesday against Star of the Sea.

The preliminary round of the Sprite Cup also kicks off at the weekend. Newcomers Clare Jets play host to the games in Ennistymon SC. Five teams are involved, with two round one spots up for grabs. Clare and Ballina face each other tomorrow, with the winner playing Queen's Graduates on Sunday. Nonnational league side Cobras face Tralee on Sunday for the other deciding place.

Liam McHale will line out for Ballina, who are looking for two Americans for the weekend, while Tralee have reputedly snapped up the released Ricardo Leonard for their match. Leonard previously lined out for Tralee when they won the league in 1996.

In the women's Superleague, Meteors lead Wildcats by one point by virtue of having played one game more. Having beaten Tolka Rovers and Killester in the past week, it is now up to the leaders to have a go at Wildcats "wild" run of 25 games without defeat.

They will again be looking towards Karen Hennessy to regain the shooting form of the beginning of the season while maintaining her vital defensive role.

Worthing Bears have appointed Canadian Sean Loucks as their new coach and he will take charge of the team tomorrow against Greater London Leopards. Loucks (33), has coached in Canada for the past 11 years.

Bears director Christian Hamilton said: "Sean has the credentials and personality of a very good Head Coach and we will be supporting him 100 per cent."