Star Of The Sea's 75-62 win over Killester on Wednesday night opened the gap further between the top two in the ESB Superleague and their main pursuers who are now in danger of losing touch with the title race.

Killester had been major contenders for the league title and they even led the table briefly before Christmas but, having struck a bad spell, they have failed to reemerge in the New Year as serious contenders.

Their defeat on Wednesday was their sixth in the campaign and compared with the three defeats suffered by both Star and second placed Waterford, it looks like Killester's hopes are severely diminished especially considering their recent inconsistency.

The two other teams with outside hopes of title success, Blue Demons and St Vincent's, meet tomorrow night in Gurranebraher in the most interesting looking game of the weekend. Whoever wins, remains on the fringes of contention and whoever loses will almost certainly drop out of the title race.

To add to the high level of interest in the game is the fact that it could well be a rehearsal for the Sprite Cup final in nine days time as both sides have qualified for the play-offs in opposite semi-finals.

Both clubs are also in fine form and have not been beaten since the start of the New Year. Demons, in fact, have shown just as good form as either Star or Waterford since the beginning of November but the three defeats they suffered in October have heavily undermined their challenge.

St Vincent's title chances were also dogged by early season inconsistency but they showed how far they have progressed with a comfortable win over Star last weekend.

For either Demons or St Vincent's to close the gap on the top two, they will probably have to remain unbeaten until the end of the season, hence the importance of tomorrow's game. Even if either club does enjoy a blemish free run, they will still have to hope that both Star and Waterford go through bad spells.

Demons have a fully fit squad with the top scorer in the league, Dion Wingfield, fit again after suffering a bad cold.

St Vincent's American Chris Doyal has been receiving physiotherapy on a shoulder problem but he should be available and their captain Mark Keenan is carrying a groin injury but is also expected to play.

The difference between these teams is marginal as was emphasised by a narrow win for the Dubliners by 86-83 when they met last October. With a lot at stake, an equally close game is in prospect.

Star of the Sea will figure in a televised duel this weekend as their opponents Sligo relinquish home advantage to play their game against the Belfast side at the National Arena in Tallaght. Gareth McGuire, who was badly missed by Star in their defeat by St Vincent's last Sunday, is expected to play despite still suffering pain from a recently dislocated finger.

Preceding the Star-Sligo encounter at the Arena will be another televised game between two mid-table teams, Notre Dame and Killarney.

Notre Dame will also be in action tonight against Dublin Bay Vikings and they will be missing their American Calvin Morris who was suspended by the NCC this week after a clash with Killarney's Brian Clarke in late December. Clarke evaded suspension by a narrow margin but picked up 16 disciplinary points for his part in the incident.

Killester, who badly need to get back on a winning run, have a new Bosman player in their squad. Italian Andrea Pollice will be available for their visit to Dungannon tomorrow.

After their unexpected defeat against Tolka Rovers last week, Wildcats cannot now wrap up the women's league title before the cup as had been anticipated. They still need two more wins to be sure of victory and they should pick up one of those away to bottom club Limerick tomorrow.

Having gone 33 games unbeaten over a period of almost two years, Wildcats are clearly the best team in the country but as Tolka proved last week, the cup is still a potentially open contest and the Waterford women have lost their air of invincibility at a crucial stage of the season.

One of Wildcats key players Prish Nolan will certainly miss the game in Limerick through injury and it is not certain that she will be fully fit for the Cup semi-final in a week's time.