BASKETBALL:UL EAGLES can take a step closer to the Nivea For Men's SuperLeague Southern Conference crown this weekend when they make the trip to Belfast to face Ulster Elks.

The Limerick side have suffered just one loss in the league this season and appear almost certain to enter the play-offs as winners of the Southern Conference.

Ulster Elks lie in wait this weekend and UL head coach Tony Hehir expects their Irish players to cause his side a lot of problems.

“They have some good scorers in Paul Cummins, Ian O’Boyle and David Neal,” said Hehir.

“We will need to play tough aggressive defence and contain their shooters. Stephen King missed the last game through injury and is likely to also miss the Elks game.

“Glen Wong, Matt Hall and Robert Lynch played very well for us last weekend in our win over UCD Marian and it was an overall good team performance.

“We will be hoping for another strong performance next Sunday and will spend this week preparing for this important league game.”

Elks are hoping to recover from an agonising three-point loss away to Demons but their head coach, Deirdre Brennan, was pleased with her side’s display despite the disappointing result.

“We were gutted with the result – we really played well despite suffering from a number of injuries,” said Brennan.

“We did play very well so that’s the upside.”

Elsewhere, UCC Demons will be hoping to consolidate second spot in the Southern Conference when they take on HOOPS and Moycullen respectively.

Neptune will be hoping to maintain the pressure on Demons when they take on Belfast Star, while National Cup champions Killester meet Dublin rivals UCD/Marian.

DCU Saints can strengthen their grip on third spot in the Northern Conference with victory away to Moycullen.

Meanwhile, in the IrishSport.TV Women’s SuperLeague, leaders Team Montenotte Hotel Cork will make the trip to the south east to face Bausch Lomb Waterford Wildcats, while DCU Mercy meet Killester in intriguing an all-capital affair.

Sligo All Stars have two opportunities to end their search for a win with scheduled outings against UL and Tolka Rovers respectively. Meteors can build on their win over Tolka last weekend but they face a tough proposition against UL on Sunday.