The return of Sarah Soctt and Clodagh Grealy from Australia has given Loreto coach Fred McDarby more selection options this season, although the team will be without Elaine Goddard, who is taking a year out from hockey.

Loreto start their campaign tomorrow away to Railway Union whose coach, Denise MacCarthy, is hoping for a top seven finish for her young team. Railway will also be in action on Sunday when they play UCD, by which time the students will have opened their league programme against Trinity.

Corinithians come up against last season's third placed team, Old Alexandra, who beat Trinity 2-0 on Wednesday night, at Milltown tomorrow. They have retained most of their Senior B- winning squad but have also acquired the experienced Clodagh McMoreland ( ex- Muckross) and Kylie McEniery, a former Australian under-21 International.

Pembroke Wanderers coach Rudi Wortmann, who will be in charge of the Leinster senior squad this season, had a busy summer, recruiting Jill Kelly ( ex UCD), Viv Doran( ex- Glennane) and South African Jeanie Strauss. This weeeknd Pembroke are away to Glennane.