Full-strength Harlequins relishing home tie at last

Having played away to Pegasus twice in the last three seasons it was with considerable relief that Harlequins greeted the draw for the quarter-finals of the Sharwoods-sponsored Irish Senior Cup. This time they got what they wanted, a home tie, with Pembroke Wanderers now standing between them and a rare appearance in the semi-finals.

"We always seemed to get the toughest of away draws - if it wasn't Pegasus it was Old Alexandra - so we're thrilled to be at home," said Harlequins' Irish international Rachel Kohler. "It's a really big game for the club - we were in a semi-final once before but not in my lifetime so if we could make it through it would be fantastic."

Kohler, though, admits that Pembroke will be something of an unknown quantity for the Munster champions tomorrow. "We've heard that they're very well organised, hard-hitting, physically strong and quite fast on the break so we're expecting a tough match."

Harlequins hope to be back to full strength after losing their unbeaten record to Church of Ireland in the league last weekend when they were missing four players, including goalkeeper Sharon Hutchinson, through illness and injury, as well as Kohler and Karen O'Brien who were away in Barcelona.

While Pembroke travel south, the other two surviving Leinster teams head north, with Old Alexandra playing Ballymoney and cup holders Hermes up against Victorians. With their five internationals eligible to play, Hermes should be strong enough to book their semi-final place but Ballymoney, although desperately inconsistent this season, could test Alexandra if they have one of their good days.

On their return to Dublin, Hermes and Alexandra must then prepare for their league meeting on Sunday, re-arranged from before Christmas. It is a game that will have a hugely significant bearing on the outcome of the Senior A title race - a win for Hermes would put them eight points clear of Alexandra and five ahead of Loreto.

Back in the Irish Cup, Ulster rivals Pegasus and Portadown meet in the fourth of tomorrow's quarter-final matches, an intriguing tie between the province's two unbeaten teams this season.