NEPTUNE, one of three Unbeaten clubs in basketball's Budweiser Superleague, face a stern test when they entertain TNT Killester in the Neptune Stadium on Saturday night.
Memories of the last time the two sides met will surely be invoked with the Dubliners winning narrowly and thereby gaining entry to the top four competition last season.
But Killester's trip down south, to Killarney for the opening game of the new season did not meet with the expected victory two weeks ago when they were beaten on the buzzer by St Paul's.
But Killester's coach, Jim Doherty, is undaunted by that defeat. "Anything that could go wrong for us that night did and we did not play as well as we could but having said that St Paul's are worthy of the position they find themselves in at the moment." Star of the Sea, Neptune and St Paul's are the three unbeaten sides in the league.
Doherty, who has been at the helm since last November, feels that his side are now coming together and have not been seen at their best to date. "The team has plenty of potential but the mental application has to be correct also. Our second American, Prentis Phillips has settled in really well and having Randall Mounts, who has been with us for a few seasons, has been instrumental in helping Prentis.
"The Neptune Stadium is always a tough gym to play in and playing against them is always a big occasion. It will, I think, depend on who plays better on the night as to who finally takes the points."
Neptune on the other hand had a relatively facile victory in their opening game and then last week they defeated the champions in Tralee displaying remarkable tenacity when coming back from an early deficit.
The south is certainly where it will all be happening with the other two unbeaten teams meeting in Killarney. Vince Daly has been in tremendous early season for St Paul's and has scored over 60 points in his two league encounters to date.
Marian are certain to feel the full backlash from Tralee's defeat last week and the Dubliners will need to be at their best to hold the champions. Notre Dame will be anxious to prove that their disastrous start is not symptomatic of their talent as they travel to play - Queens in Belfast with Sligo playing St Vincent's at home.
The withdrawal of Wexford from national competition deprives the Gateaux women's league of one game each week. Therefore, league champions Wildcats have a further week to hone their preparations.
