At least one of Banbridge and Lisnagarvey’s perfect records will fall in round three of the Irish Hockey League on what looks to be a pivotal weekend in the marquee competition.

Traditionally the club tie that draws the biggest crowds in the sport, the pair will play the late game at Havelock Park on Saturday with the winner to take the advantage in terms of progression to the playoff stages.

Bann would appear to be in the box seat having netted a remarkable 96 goals already this season – 40 of them from Stephen Dowds – in an unbeaten 16-game run in all competitions.

That includes a thrilling 4-3 win over Garvey in the Ulster Premier division. With five players back in the fold from Ireland’s midweek series against France – Dowds, Drew Carlisle, Peter Brown, Matthew Bell and Bruce McCandless – it will be some task for Garvey to stop them.

Plenty of quality

To that end, Sean Murray has been playing with a hand injury in recent times but they have plenty of quality in the form of Jonathan Bell and Jason Lynch.

Whichever side falters is likely to fall behind Three Rock Rovers, the third side with a perfect record in the six-team pool, as they are heavy favourites to beat UCD.

Rovers did fall 3-2 to YMCA in the Mills Cup on Tuesday evening, ending their defence of that title, but welcome back Irish internationals Mitch Darling and Jonny Bruton.

In Pool A, reigning champions Monkstown host Cookstown while Pembroke meet UCC as they attempt to overhaul surprise leaders Annadale.

Leinster league

Pembroke scraped to a narrow midweek Leinster league victory against basement side Avoca, coming from 2-1 at half-time to win 3-2 but will be buoyed by the return of goalkeeper Mark Ingram.

Avoca, meanwhile, play again on Saturday against Corinthian in the sole Leinster division one tie on the agenda.