WOMENN'S HOCKEY: Pegasus begin their quest for a fifth successive club championship title against Munster champions Harlequins in Belfield tomorrow, but the club is none too pleased about its lack of competitive match practice ahead of the tournament.

For the second year running the Irish champions were given a bye into the finals, following UCC's failure to travel to Belfast for the second leg of their quarter-final tie, and while the three other finalists, Hermes, Loreto and Harlequins, all had to come through two testing games to qualify for this weekend, Pegasus had to make do with just one game against the Munster runners-up, which they won 11-0.

Pegasus coach Eilish Macken has, consequently, called on the Irish Hockey Association to penalise UCC so that future quarter-finalists will withdraw at their peril.

"If something isn't done by way of a penalty, then it simply opens the door for other sides to do the same sort of thing," she said.

On the bright side for Pegasus, they should have their Irish internationals Arlene Boyles and Pamela Magill back in action this weekend following injuries, significantly boosting their hopes of retaining their crown.

They have never lost to Harlequins, but Rachael Kohler, captain of the Munster champions, is hopeful that her team will prove to be more testing opponents than before.

"Playing in Europe last season was a great experience for this team and, I think, it has made us stronger. Beating Leinster's third-placed team (Pembroke Wanderers) in the quarter-finals has given us a lot of confidence and we're going into the finals up to the pace with those two games behind us," said Kohler.

"We're probably still the underdogs of the four, but I don't think there's a huge difference between the teams.

"In one-off matches you'd probably always tip Pegasus to win out, but because this is a three-match tournament I'd make Hermes favourites because they have, overall, a stronger squad and more depth than Pegasus - and that's crucial over a weekend.

"But, after winning the Irish Senior Cup, Loreto have every reason to feel confident too. Their forwards, especially Cathy McKean, are probably the strongest of any team in the finals."

Hermes and Loreto meet, for the fifth time this season, in the tournament's opening game tomorrow morning.

CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP FINALS (at Belfield)

Tomorrow

Hermes v Loreto, 10.0; Pegasus v Harlequins, 4.0.

Sunday

Pegasus v Loreto, 12.0; Hermes v Harlequins, 2.0.

Monday

Loreto v Harlequins, 9.30; Pegasus v Hermes, 1.30.