Neptune plan without Smith

Basketball/Weekend Preview: The Superleague Board have ruled that Neptune are to be awarded a 20-0 victory over Killester for the October 15th fixture as the north Dublin clubs court in Greendale Community School was deemed unplayable by officials due to "moisture on the court." However, the Cork side go into the weekend without the services of injured American Dajan Smith.

Despite the annual turnover in foreign personnel, the Tralee Tigers and UCC Demons are still the teams to beat this year.

The Demons, who are without the injured Brian O'Neill for eight weeks, and the Tigers pair off tomorrow night in Kerry with the result sure to tell observers of Irish basketball who is in the best shape to dominate the evolving campaign. It may be neither.

The Limerick Lions look capable in these early stages, at least, to knock the league and cup champions off their perches.

Last week, the Limerick Lions laid down a marker by beating the Demons in the cup and they will seek to complete a Cork double this holiday weekend against Neptune in their first home game of the season after three impressive wins on their travels.

Strangely, they are back on the road on Monday with a visit to Tralee.

Head coach Tony Hehir can take a bow for recruiting Americans Robert Taylor and Jon Stevens, especially if they can engineer two victories by Tuesday morning.

Elsewhere, St Vincent's host Ballina on Sunday afternoon for their second game of the weekend after travelling up to the University of Ulster to face Star of the Sea tonight.

The Ballina match has added interest, as the sides will also meet in the national cup qualifiers.

Point guard Steven Miles, who made his debut last weekend, replaces American Brendan Twomey, who has been released.

WEEKEND FIXTURES

Men's Superleague - Tonight: Star of the Sea v St Vincent's, UUJ, 8.15. Saturday: UCD v Shamrock Rovers Hoops, Belfield, 7.10; Star of the Sea v Killester, UUJ, 7.15; Limerick Lions v Neptune, UL, 7.30; Tralee Tigers v UCC Demons, Tralee SC, 8.0. Sunday: St Vincent's v Ballina, St Vincent's CBS, 3.30. Monday: Tralee Tigers v Limerick Lions, Tralee SC, 3.0. Women's Superleague - Saturday: Meteors v Dynamos, St Olafs, 6.45; Glanmire v UL Aughinish, Little Island, 7.30; Wildcats v St Paul's, Mercy Gym, 7.30.