Several leading teams will need to have recovered from a spate of injuries and flu if they are to survive tomorrow's fourth round of the Nissan-sponsored Irish Senior Cup.
The Leinster champions, Pembroke Wanderers, particularly, will be depending on a return to action by Nigel Henderson, Peter Young, Simon Kershaw and Max Lanos for their excursion to Cork, for Harlequins are bound to be brimming with defiance and vigour.
Ivan Bateman, Alan Bateman, Jason Black, Dave Eakins and Paul Lombard figure prominently in a side unbeaten in local fare, though the Munstermen will be aware that Pembroke have lost only two penalty shoot-outs in Leinster competitions and, guided by Simon Filgas, are keeping their sights on a major trophy or two. "Yes, it will be pretty even at Harlequin Park," Filgas agrees. It's important we don't make any mistakes."
As Pembroke are out of town, Serpentine Avenue has become available for Avoca to provide a prestigious venue for the visit of Banbridge. This may not be as tough a contest as jousts of former years but the Dubliners will require unyielding performances by Trevor Dagg and Colin Hade if, say, David McAnulty is to be curbed. It is a blow to Avoca that their captain, Anton Scott, will miss the game because of a badly split lip suffered at Grange Road last Saturday. At least, Colm Brady is set to resume.
Robin Madeley is likely to motivate Three Rock Rovers sufficiently to beat Mossley at The Glade where the incisiveness of Liam Canning and Gordon Elliott ought to be a telling factor.
The liveliest tie of the day may well be at Lough Moss where Annadale, having succumbed to Rovers' maturity at the semi-final stage last year, will feel that they have the edge over Monkstown. David Smyth and Chris Jackson, though, know that the attacking capabilities of Cliff Bailey and Justin Sherriff, supplemented by Greg Heger, could mean that goals will flow at both ends.
YMCA, hit for seven by Monkstown last weekend, cannot hope to repeat a Leinster Cup win over Glenanne at Ballinteer unless coach Oliver Keithe can come up with a solution to cope with injury problems, notably Stewart Taylor's back trouble. Glenanne, on the other hand, are well rested and straining at Eddie O'Malley's leash.
Elsewhere, Cliftonville will not yield easily to the holders Instonians at Olympia but Raphoe cannot expect to contain illustrious Lisnagarvey at Omagh. Cork C of I should also thrive through Alastair Dunne and the Hanna brothers against Aer Lingus at Garryduff, though John Leavy and Dave Bane will be foremost in the resistance.
