EYHL leaders Lisnagarvey begin their Kirk Cup title defence as they travel to face Queen’s University on Saturday afternoon.
Erroll Lutton’s side are out to win the competition for a fourth consecutive season having already earned the status as record winners, lifting the trophy on 35 occasions.
The club have yet again begun the season in blistering form and top of the EYHL having dropped points in just one of their 10 games this season.
With 23 goals between them this season, Andrew Williamson and Ben Nelson both provide plenty of goal threat for their side, whilst youngsters Milo Thompson, John Cunningham and Tom Archbold are all likely to feature.
They now face a Queen’s University side who have struggled to find a consistency so far this campaign.
Currently fifth in the Premier League, the students have won three and lost five of their nine games in the division this campaign, most recently losing 8-3 to Instonians despite goals from Matthew Spence, Harry Scott and Ben Law.
Elsewhere, Premier League leaders Cookstown take on Anderson Cup finalists Bangor with both sides looking to continue their fine form of late.
The two sides last met at the beginning of the season when Cookstown won with a comprehensive 7-0 victory thanks to goals from Jack Haycock (2), Scott McCabe (2), Mark Cuddy (2) and Michael Kerr.
The win was just the start of an almost perfect start to the season for Cookstown which has seen them earn 19 points from seven league games.
However, since the previous meeting, Bangor have found a run of form. Having lost their opening three games of the season, the side have since won three league games in a row whilst also reaching the Anderson Cup final.
During that time they have beaten two EYHL opponents in Banbridge and Annadale, proving their potential to cause yet another cup upset this weekend.
In Lisburn, there is another Premiership vs EYHL clash as South Antrim host Banbridge at Friends’ School.
Both teams come into the fixture in fine form, sitting second and third in their respective divisions at the halfway stage of the season.
However, despite Banbridge coming into the tie as heavy favourites, South can be optimistic of causing an upset with the EYHL side having already lost to Premier League opponents this campaign.
In the Anderson Cup sem-final it was Scott McCandless’ side who suffered a surprise run-ins defeat at the hands of Bangor following a 3-3 draw in normal-time, a result that South Antrim will be looking to replicate on Saturday.
At Edenvilla, Annadale travel to face Portadown in a third cross-division clash in the opening weekend of the competition.
The Premier League side have been in fine form this campaign, sitting fourth in the division and having won four of their eight league games, meanwhile, Ryan Bennett provides a goalscoring threat for his side, netting a joint league high of six goals this campaign.
However, the side have had a dip in recent weeks losing two of their last three outings prior to the Christmas break.
They now take on Annadale who find themselves in the relegation fight in the EYHL with just three points from their nine games in the league this campaign.
The side have already lost to Premiership opposition this season having lost to Bangor in the early rounds of the Anderson Cup in September.
PHOTO: Front Row Union