It's another action-packed weekend in the Basketball Ireland Super Leagues with some very big games in store in both the men's and women's divisions.
In the men's league, all eyes will be on Oblate Hall on Saturday evening as Black Amber Templeogue prepare for their top-of-the-table clash against Griffith College Swords Thunder.
Both sides come into the game with seven wins and three losses apiece in the season to date, with Swords just holding the edge on the table standings thanks to a bigger points difference.
Indeed, Swords will be confident going into this weekend's fixture having upset last week's table toppers UCD Marian in the ALSAA.
Head coach Dave Baker was relishing the challenge of Templeogue this week.
"We have been showing good form the past two weeks beating Tralee and UCD Marian, " he said. "Hopefully, we can build on that this weekend. This is always a fixture we look forward to, but we haven't had much success in the Oblates in the past. It promises to be a great match up."
Black Amber Templeogue meanwhile have put their rocky start to the season behind them and are now on the hunt for their seventh win in a row.
"We're really looking forward to this weekend's game and being back in our home court," said player Jason Killeen. "We know that it will take a huge effort to beat Swords after they had a big win over UCD Marian, but we are confident that our form has been improving after a slow start, and the team is starting to click at a crucial juncture of the season."
Elsewhere, it’s set to be a close affair in UCD as UCD Marian welcome Moycullen, while Pyrobel Killester and DCU Saints will meet in what is set to be a very close and competitive game in the IWA, Clontarf on Saturday evening.
Garvey’s Tralee Warriors will be hoping this weekend will mark a change in their fortunes as they take to the road to face Belfast Star, Maree welcome Éanna to Oranmore, while KUBS – who are still chasing their first win of the season – will make the trip down to UCC Demons on Sunday.
Top of the table
In the Women's Super League meanwhile there is a big Cork battle on the cards on Sunday afternoon as Singleton SuperValu Brunell welcome near neighbours Ambassador UCC Glanmire to the Parochial Hall. Brunell come into the game off the back of an overtime win against Maxol WIT Wildcats last weekend, while Glanmire went down at the hands of Courtyard Liffey Celtics last Sunday – their second loss in a row.
Liffey Celtics meanwhile remain top of the table with six wins from six, and they will be hoping to keep that impressive streak going when they travel to the IWA to face Pyrobel Killester on Saturday evening. Killester have a very solid home record, however, and will be hoping to keep that intact in this weekend’s battle.
Elsewhere, Portlaoise Panthers will be looking to regroup after a loss to DCU Mercy last week. They welcome NUIG Mystics to St Mary’s Hall, while DCU are back on their home stomping ground and will face off against Maxol WIT Wildcats in what is set to be a very close game.
It's Cup action in the Women's Division One meanwhile, with two Hula Hoops National Cup quarter-finals tipping off this weekend. An in-form Fr Mathews (who are unbeaten in the league) will welcome last year's Cup finalists Marble City Hawks to Cork in what is set to be one of the games of the weekend, while Ulster University Elks will play host to Meteors on Sunday in the second quarter-final of the weekend.
