Basketball Weekend previewLike a marathon athlete late on in the race, Killester coach Jerome Westbrooks knows that the finishing line is around the next few bends but he also realises that anything can happen over the final stages.
On a more practical level, Killester's rhythm has been disrupted over the marathon that is the Superleague campaign, having had do without the two Americans around whom Westbrooks had built his team.
They have struggled on admirably but the decision of Mike Martin and Colin Tabb to return to the States leaves them desperately short of the resources necessary to stop a Tralee Tigers clean sweep.
Damien Morbley is still holding the fort but replacement import Laurence Young has struggled to dominate like the previous recruits. It gets worse, as they must plan this weekend's double-header in Cork without Westbrooks' son Aaron and Michael Chubb, who are involved in schools' finals.
The Cork axis of Neptune and UCC Demons can put a serious dent in Killester's aspirations of making the semi-finals outright by topping the Northern Conference.
St Vincent's may overtake Killester after tonight, as victory over Star of the Sea in Jordanstown will see them draw level with their north Dublin rivals. Despite the disappointing second-half display against Tralee in the cup final, Joey Boylan's men still look the strongest contenders outside Munster.
UCD and Ballina continue to battle for the final play-off spot with trips to Kerry and Dublin respectively.
In the Southern Conference, Tralee host the students with the availability of football duo Michael Quirke and Kieran Donaghy still unsure, although neither was named in Kerry Gaelic football manager Jack O'Connor's midfield for the weekend.
However, it's the battle below the cup champions that is interesting. The two Cork teams will look to capitalise from Killester's problems, while Limerick need new American Brendan Twomey to provide the inspiration against basement side Waterford.
Whatever the results, come Sunday night the Superleague will be a week closer to the March play-offs and some teams will inevitably start falling off the pace.
WEEKEND FIXTURES
Men's Superleague: Today: Star of Sea v St Vincent's, UU Jordanstown, 8.30. Saturday: Waterford v Limerick, Waterford IT, 7.30; Shamrock Rovers Hoops v Ballina, National Arena, 8.30; Neptune v Killester, Neptune Stadium, 7.30. Sunday: Tralee Tigers v UCD, Tralee Sports Complex, 3.15; Killarney Lakers v Star of Sea, INEC, 2.30; UCC Demons v Killester, Mardyke Arena, 3.15.
Women's Superleague: Saturday: Killester v Drimnagh, IWA, 6.30; UL Aughinish v Waterford Wildcats, UL Arena, 7.0; Glanmire v Meteors, Littleisland, 7.30; St Paul's v Mercy Coolock, Presentation, 7.30. Sunday: St Paul's v UL Aughinish INEC 4.30.
