In the last game before their three week lay-off, Superleague leaders Neptune will meet the Clare Jets tomorrow in search of the three points that would secure their top spot for the duration of the Christmas break.
Still four points clear of their closest rivals and defending champions Star of the Sea, Neptune coach Gerry Fitzpatrick nevertheless insists that his side are taking it one week at a time.
"Every game for the rest of the season will be a final for us," he says. "Anyone in the top four or five at the moment are very much in contention. You can still win this league by losing five games, like Star did last year, but we're certainly not looking beyond our meeting with Clare."
Since taking over at the start of the season, Fitzpatrick has certainly found the form that can see them peak the pyramid, but there is still the haunting reminder of last year when after a similar start, they slumped to an eight-place finish.
"Obviously, I can't compare this team to other years," he adds, "but the attitude by all the players has been very good. They needed to get that right. Our defence has been very consistent, our team-building has been strong, and we're learning to play together very effectively."
The early cup exit has also brought a stronger focus to Neptune. "If we were midway down the table it could have been different, but we were able to see the positive side."
Tomorrow they meet a Clare side that are currently fifth in the league, and with only six defeats this season, are just behind the top three. They also boast three of the most consistent foreign players in the league with Andrew Pieper (average 25 points a game), Mike Ayanbadejo (22 points per game) and Lester Hunt (19 points per game).
Also adding interest to this game is the fact that second-placed Star and third-placed Denny Notre Dame also meet tomorrow evening, the outcome of which will effect just how comfortable the Neptune lead will be over the Christmas break.
Star have undergone some key changes in recent weeks, with the departure of Charles Jones and Tim Kennedy and the return of John Leahy and Javan Dupree, along with Adrian Fulton - who had previously being concentrating on soccer.
The Notre Dame side have also been strengthened by the arrival of Dutch Bosman Brian Benjamin, but with four losses already this season, one less than Star, there will be precious little margin for error here. On Sunday, Star complete a difficult double-header weekend with a trip to Killester.
In tonight's live TV game (TG4, 9.0), Killester play host to Burger King Limerick at the National Basketball Arena, and the Dublin side will be hoping to bounce back from last weekend's cup exit at the hands of Waterford Crystal.
Elsewhere, fourth-placed Kerry Spring Killarney will be without the suspended Robbie Turner for tomorrow's game with Tolka Rovers. And bottom-placed Sligo Dairies, who have replaced coach Deora Marsh with player-coach Chris Doyal, will not be relishing their trip to St Vincent's on Sunday.
In the women's Superleague, the game of the weekend sees Avonmore Snowcream Wildcats take on Crusaders without the services of four key players - Michelle Aspell, Mary Fitzpatrick, Kate Maher and Kim Fitzpatrick. It should be a big test for the defending champions.
