It promises to be an incredible weekend of hockey coming up as first play second in no fewer than five of the six divisions.
In the PwC Men’s Premier, the stage has been set for a while for the grudge match as Russell Miller’s Crowe Morgan Valkyrs host Jamie Brown’s Bacchas side in Peel on Saturday afternoon.
Both teams have beaten every other team in the league, with last season’s champions Bacchas holding the advantage on goal difference after firing 19 goals last week.
However, the Westerners have looked fantastic at times this season and will be hugely motivated to strike the first telling blow in the title battle.
Canaccord Genuity Vikings should put last week’s disappointment behind them when playing Paul Kelly’s Partitionware Castletown on Friday night, before LJ Ramsey will seek to bounce back against Bacchas B.
Over to the PwC Women’s Premier League and the top two duke it out in the early game at CRHS.
Vikings will certainly start as favourites, but Bacchas possess a number of threats which the blacks cannot take lightly.
Expect a statement of intent from Kim Carney’s league champions, though it won’t be plain sailing.
In the other games in the division, both Castletown and Valkyrs will be looking to register their second wins of the season to avoid being drawn into a relegation dogfight, while Ramsey should have too much for Bacchas seconds up north.
PwC Men’s Division One next, and the nails will remain chewed as Harlequins take on Vikings B, both questing for promotion.
Alex Cave’s Quins are a point ahead at the top and will start as marginal favourites, but an undefeated Vikings side will be no pushovers.
In a game containing four of the top five scorers in the league, expect goals goals goals in this one.
At the other end of the table, Ian Perry’s Vikings Colts will be looking to follow up their first point of the season last week with another two against Ramsey B, while Bacchas Colts take on Saracens in a mid-table clash.
The excitement continues in PwC Women’s Division One, with the top three teams in action.
Caitlin Dodd’s Harlequins take on Ramsey B in the key game of the day knowing that a victory would put them ahead of the northerners.
Valkyrs B will aim to register their first points of the season, but against Beckie O’Brien’s high-flying Vikings B, they may find it a bridge too far.
In the PwC Men’s Division Two, Valkyrs B could be forgiven for booking the trophy engravers if they can beat Mark Bratt’s Castletown B for the third time this season, a victory would take them six points clear.
Sam Lancaster’s Harlequins will look to follow up last week’s steely victory over the Reds as they take on Bacchas C.
Valkyrs C have breathing space in the PwC Women’s Division Two, but a victory for Joeanna Roney’s Bacchas C would move them to within a point of the leaders. The second teams of Harlequins and Castletown round out the weekend’s hockey.