NEPTUNE can reclaim the outright lead in the Budweiser Super League if they defeat Sligo tomorrow at the Neptune Stadium in Cork.

Despite their 100 per cent record in the league, Neptune dropped out of top position last weekend when Star of the Sea narrowly defeated Delta to take over the lead on at least a temporary basis.

Neptune, with a game in hand, merely have to turn up tomorrow to ensure a share of the lead entering the New Year while a victory which is expected against one of the super league strugglers would ensure a clear two point advantage.

Neptune coach Tim Wilkinson has only one fitness worry, but it concerns the entire team. "I remember this time last year, just after Christmas we played North Mon in the league and for pretty obvious reasons it was an absolutely awful game.

"Hopefully the lads will have learned from that and have gone easy on the food and drink over the past few days," he said.