BASKETBALL Basketball Ireland Weekly Preview

This weekend's action in the Nivea For Men's Superleague will provide us with a greater clue on who will reach the all important Play-Off Stages at the end of the season.

DCU Saints take on Neptune with both sides still firmly involved in the shake up to reach the latter stages of the season, while UCD/Marian can cement their place with wins away to Ulster Elks and home to HOOPS.

The race for the top spot appears to be over with Northern Conference leaders DART Killester and Southern Conference leaders UCC Demons all but assured of a place in the semi final's.

DCU Saints' hopes of making the Play-Off's have been dented in recent weeks with a demoralising run of three defeats on the trot. It's a sharp contrast to their excellent run of three consecutive wins towards the final stages of 2008.

"We've had a tough January particularly given the fact that we ended the season on a high, winning 3 straight league games in December," said Saints' Irish international Emmet Donnelly. "We lost our last 3 so we're looking to show our strength of character and put in a strong performance this weekend. Neptune will be really tough opponents having beaten us twice already this season but we certainly will want to make amends for those loses as well."

Saints will be without long term injury absentees Joey McGuirk and Mike Lacey but are confident James Donnelly and Martins Provizors will be fit in time to feature.

Neptune are on the brink of the Play-Off's after an excellent overtime win away to UCD/Marian on top of results going their way elsewhere in last weekend's fixtures.

Neptune will be without Paul Keenan, who is on holidays, and their Head Coach Stephen McCarthy is wary of a Saints side out for revenge.

"We have to just try and keep winning every game to ensure a Play-Off spot," said McCarthy. "Saints will want to avenge cup defeats as they probably feel they left the game behind them."

HOOPS face a big weekend in pursuit of a Play-Off place with a clash at home to fellow Play-Off challengers Belfast Star followed by a tricky visit to UCD/Marian on Sunday.

HOOPS' cause hasn't been helped by the absence of Joey Haastrup, who is expected to miss the remainder of the season with a torn ligament in his knee. "It's hugely frustrating," said HOOPS Head Coach Ahmad Smith. "We need to put an end to this run and get our first win of 2009. We are lucky to be still in with a chance of qualifying for the Play-Off's particularly after our recent form but we must get a win on the board this weekend."

UCD/Marian's hugely positive campaign hit a blip last weekend at home to HOOPS but they can get their season back on track with a double header against Ulster Elks and HOOPS this weekend. Head Coach Cormac Connor is hopeful the side will have injured duo Daniel James and Peter Finn available for the weekend.

Ulster Elks secured their second win of the season last weekend and will be hoping to add another scalp this weekend when they host UCD/Marian.

Gareth Maguire is likely to miss out with a bruised heel but Matt Betley is expected to line out despite suffering recently with an ankle injury.

National Cup and Southern Conference champions UCC Demons are proving relentless in their pursuit of the treble and will show no mercy to Limerick Lions despite their safe position at the top of the table.

"Our transition defense and ability to close out on Limerick's shooters will be key," said Demons Head Coach Douglas Leichner. "As always, the importance of rebounding will be stressed during our preparation. Our mental toughness and the ability to avoid distractions on the road will be a major objective.

"The Lions have a balanced scoring attack led by sharp shooter American Sean Coffey, post player American Joel Green, talented Stephen King and physical Rob Lynch," added Leichner. "Add a healthy Scott Kinevane to the mix and you have the makings of a dangerous team. They are in a fight for a playoff berth and will be looking to get back in the win column on their home court."

However, it is likely Scott Kinevane will miss the visit of the National Cup champions but Head Coach JP Nerbun is hoping his charges can match their illustrious Cork opponents.

"Going into this weekend's game we are focusing on playing well as a team especially given the run that Demons are currently on," said Nerbun. "It looks like Scott won't be available although we won't know our final position probably until Saturday morning. We got blitzed in the first quarter last week up in Belfast by an Ian O'Boyle salvo and we need to make sure we dig in very early against Demons or the same thing can happen. I expect a really tough game and I hope that we can stay with Demons and make a real game of it coming down the stretch."

Abrakebabra Tigers make the trip to the capital to face a DART Killester side already assured of their place in the latter stages of the league. Tigers, who are without Micheal Quirke and Kieran Donaghy for the remainder of the season, are at full strength otherwise and are boosted by last week's win away to HOOPS.

DART Killester can wrap up the Northern Conference this weekend but are now prepared to be without Kieran O'Brien for the remainder of the season. "We should be ok on the whole but Kieran is looking more and more likely to miss the remaining stages of the season," said DART Head Coach Mark Keenan. "It's all about re-focusing our attention on the league now. The cup is behind us now so we are determined to end the season on a high. We believe we are good enough so hopefully we can prove it on the court."

Meanwhile, in Basketball Ireland's Women's Superleague, leaders DCU Mercy entertain Leisureworld Churchfield IONA on Sunday, while Bausch & Lomb Wildcats face a tough UL Aughinish side on Saturday.

Team Montenotte Hotel Cork's quest to claim another treble continues away to a DART Killester side still looking for their first win of the season. Tolka Rovers' slim chances of making the Play-Off's will be tested at home to Meteors on Saturday evening.

It will take something special to catch the traditional 'big four' for a place in the Play-Off's, with Tolka and IONA needing an almost perfect run in these final weeks to break the strangehold.