As teams around the country prepare for another weekend of games, the tension is mounting in Cork as C&S UCC Demons prepare for battle against old rivals Bord Gáis Neptune.

The game will take place tonight in UCC’s Mardyke Arena and will mark the first time that the two Cork sides will go head to head this season.

To date, C&S UCC Demons are undefeated after comprehensive wins under the watchful eye of new player-coach and Demons legend, Colin O’Reilly. However, Bord Gáis Neptune has also recorded three wins and one tough loss so far. This game is crucial for both sides as they not only fight it out for the precious three points but for local bragging rights too.

Although Neptune defeated Demons in the National Cup semi-final in Cork last season, it was Demons who recorded the better overall record between the sides when they went head to head in the regular season games.

"This is a huge game for us", said Neptune's head coach Mark Scannell. "Although we haven't won in the Mardyke in a long time we are ready for the challenge. We will be up against it with Demons, they have been playing very well lately . . . We have had a good run in the last couple of weeks and this weekend a lot of our injury worries have been put to rest, especially with Ger Noonan, he's in good form," said Scannell.

“After this game we will have a good idea of where we are at in terms of our progression this season. It won’t be easy but we are ready to take them on.”

Elsewhere, Colin O’Reilly, head coach of C&S UCC Demons said the game is generating a good buzz in the Cork. “It’s a game that has caught the fans imagination and thrown up unpredictable results in the past,” he said.

“For us we are looking to continue improving from game to game. We cannot let the fact that it’s a derby cloud our judgement on the court. In the grand scheme of thing the three points available for winning the derby is the same as three points for beating any other team.”