CORK rivals, UCC Demons and NEH Neptune, will play at each end of the country this weekend but they will be drawn together in a fierce battle for second place in the Southern Conference as the Nivea for Men SuperLeague goes into the final series before the play-offs.

UL EAGLES, with the Southern Conference title all wrapped up, will host Belfast Star this weekend in advance of the upcoming NIVEA for MEN SuperLeague play-offs.

UL EAGLES will be fancied to reinforce their position at the top of the Southern Conference when they travel to Belfast to play Ulster Elks this weekend while Neptune bid to keep the pressure on SuperLeague champions, UCC Demons, for the prime second spot.

AFTER their thrilling derby game on Friday night at The Mardyke Arena, UCC Demons and National Event Hire Neptune go their separate ways this weekend with the NIVEA for MEN SuperLeague champions heading to Jordanstown and Neptune make their first trip to Moycullen.

WHEN the pennants hung from the roof of Neptune Stadium they spelled out the history of Irish basketball but, those days, the team that once ruled the roost survives on memories.

One of the biggest rivalries in Irish sport takes place this Friday night with UCC Demons entertaining fierce Cork rivals Neptune at the Mardyke Arena in the Nivea For Men’s Superleague.

UCD DEMONS can copper-fasten their play-off hopes if they beat Limerick Lions in the NIVEA for MEN SuperLeague at the Mardyke Arena tonight on the back of what has been a great couple of weeks for the Cork club.

The opening weekend of the Nivea For Men’s SuperLeague got off to a thrilling start with Limerick Lions snatching victory from the hands of Ballina, while Belfast Star came out on top in the Ulster derby with league newcomers University of Ulster.

With just five weeks left in the regular season, all teams have their eyes firmly fixed on capturing a coveted play-off spot in the NIVEA for Men SuperLeague quarter-finals (to take place on March 18 and 19).

ABRAKEBABRA TIGERS released their second American during the week, so Joe Quirke will be banking on his Irish players when the club host UCC Demons in the Nivea for Men SuperLeague this weekend.

DART Killester and Abrakebabra Tigers remain unbeaten and top of their respective conferences ahead of the much anticipated cross-conference clash at the Tralee Sports Centre in two weeks.

IT’S been a difficult week for ESB Superleague leaders, Tralee Tigers. Dumped out of the Cup by Neptune eight days ago, they also surrendered their unbeaten league record on Saturday as BurgerKing Limerick claimed a notable scalp with a 100-89 victory.

Notre Dame's 96-106 defeat to Star of the Sea on Wednesday night rules them out of the title chase, with only two teams now vying for the Superleague trophy.

THE spotlight will be on the SuperLeague table toppers Notre Dame and Sx3 Star when the semi-finals of the ESB National Cup get under way at the ESB Arena this afternoon.

DART Killester have lodged a protest over the refereeing of last weekend’s tie against Star of the Sea, but coach Mark Ingle said yesterday there was no question of seeking a replay or anything like that.

Sx3 Star 101 Neptune 93

It's make or break for Neptune this weekend as a loss to Sx3 Star could be the deciding factor for the Superleague title.

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