MEN'S HOCKEY: The preference for dual rugby/hockey followers tomorrow would be to tune into the spectacle at Stade de France rather than endure the Leinster Senior League relegation play-off between Avoca and Trinity at Serpentine Avenue.

Good luck to both sides - to Avoca, the club who were sweeping all before them a decade ago, and to Trinity, the universities champions who avoided the drop last season by winning the play-off against Railway Union on strokes.

The students, having survived that shoot-out, as well as beating Avoca (3-2) in their last league fixture, may have a psychological edge, but Avoca's pride will no doubt sustain them to the end. They will be hoping that Trevor Dagg and either the injury-afflicted Stephen Kinsella or the veteran Peter Agnew can repulse Trinity's more potent attack, in which Paul Tuthill has become particularly menacing.

It should be recorded at this stage that the UCD goalkeeper Graham Woods won the Computershare Player of the Month award for February in playing a leading role as the Belfield side kept a clean sheet in their last four matches to escape the threat of relegation while it was Trinity who went to the wire.

On a higher plane, it has emerged that Pembroke Wanderers must face Instonians on three suceessive Saturdays, first in the Irish Senior Cup final next weekend and then in the two-leg all-Ireland championship quarter-finals.

In tomorrow's closing league match against Three Rock Rovers, Pembroke will be giving wounds a chance to heal and will also be depleted by an Ireland training session.

Other activities over the weekend include the Neville Davin Cup final between Railway Union and Bray at Serpentine Avenue on Sunday as well as the inaugural Joey O'Meara Memorial Trophy under-16 tournament with the final taking place at Park Avenue (3.0). Navan figure among the eight teams, and Three Rock Rovers will be favourites.