Women's Hockey European Cup Winners' Cup: A year after winning gold on their European debut, at the B division of the Cup Winners' Cup in Vienna, Leinster champions Loreto move up a competitive notch this weekend when they represent Ireland in the A division of the tournament in Holland.

And with Dutch, German and Spanish teams making up their pool, it will be a challenge like no other Siobhán Keogh's team has faced.

Loreto must finish in the top six in the eight-team tournament to preserve Ireland's A-division status for next season, when either Pegasus or Hermes will be in the line-up. It seems likely Monday's cross-overs are likely to determine Loreto's fate: there they will meet either Russian, English, Scottish or Ukrainian opposition.

Nikki Symmons's return from international duty, where she has impressed after being switched to a new role at right-back, and the availability of new "signing" Linda O'Neill are two welcome boosts for the team.

The test facing them is, nonetheless, a formidable one.

The Irish under-21 team's preparations for July's European finals have been dealt a blow by the withdrawal from the panel of Pegasus defender Nadine Graham and Coleraine's Jan Magowan.

The squad for the finals will be named by coach Stephen Jackson in a week.

LORETO SQUAD: L Healy, T O'Keefe, J Lynch, C Grealy, W Byrne, N Symmons, N Keegan, C McKean, S Cooney, S O'Meara, N Lyons (capt), O Ryan, C O'Kelly, S Walsh, A M Cullen, M Harkin, J O'Neill, L O'Neill. Coach: Siobhán Keogh.

EUROPEAN CUP WINNERS' CUP (A Division) (at Laren, Holland) Today: Loreto v Laren, 4.0. Tomorrow: Loreto v Klipper, 2.0. Sunday: Loreto v Ourense, 2.0. Monday: Cross-overs.

Pool A: Loreto, Laren (Holland), Klipper (Germany), Ourense (Spain). Pool B: Moscow Pravda, Bonagrass Grove (Scotland), Canterbury (England), Dinamo Sumchanka (Ukraine).