Hilliard still a defiant figure

When they last met in the Leinster League, six months ago, Old Alexandra and Hermes played out a scoreless but thrilling draw on the final day of the season, a result that cost both teams the title which went to Loreto for the first time in 15 years. They meet again this weekend in what should be a considerably less stressful affair but, perhaps, just as significant to the outcome of the title race.

Sarah Hilliard was the scourge of Alexandra on that day, saving two penalty strokes, and has re-established herself as first choice Hermes goalkeeper, now that Tara Browne has moved to Holland. "While Tara was here I just kept my head down and kept working and while she was away with Ireland I tried to take my chance," said Hilliard. When asked if she had ambitions to win her place back in the Irish squad she said she was just "taking one day at a time. I'm just enjoying my hockey now and not looking too far in to the future."

With Harlequins' Sharon Hutchinson taking time out from hockey, Alexandra's goalkeeper Jenny King, who was outstanding last season, could also find herself in contention for a place in the Irish squad but is currently struggling with an injury. Susan Keogh and Tracey Skoyles are two more Alexandra doubts for tomorrow's game while Jenny Burke will be absent from the Hermes line-up (shoulder trouble) along with Deirdre McDermott (foot injury).

Pembroke Wanderers, meanwhile, will hope to build on last week's 2-2 draw with Loreto when they play Railway Union at Serpentine Avenue. Coach Rudi Wortmann believes his team is capable of a top-three finish this season, one that would secure them a place in the All-Ireland League, and has added no fewer than 12 new players to the club's first and second team squads (including Claire Deasy from Muckross and Emily McNicholas from UCD).

If Railway can't quite match those numbers they have in their ranks one of the stars of schools' hockey in recent years, the former Mount Anville forward and Irish under-18 international Caoilfhionn Rowan who scored her first goal for the club last weekend.

With the Munster League split in to two divisions of six teams this season there will be fewer fixtures for the clubs - this weekend, for example, there are no first division matches.

In Ulster Jeanette Turner will line out for Pegasus against the club she coached last season, Portadown. Pegasus responded to their shock defeat by Belfast Harlequins, who have won all three of their games so far, by training first thing the "morning after" and beating Knock 11-1 the following week.