PHOENIX A will be expecting to register a comfortable victory against hockey's division one bottom of the table Vikings A this Saturday.
Failure to win by at least a five-goal margin could see the forwards forced to practise their finishing skills at the next training session.
Vikings are a weakened side compared with last season, with a few players stepping up to division one in o
rder to gain experience for the future.
Despite securing their first points of the season last weekend, Ramsey will be hard pushed to repeat that feat when they face Bacchas B.
Any defensive weakness will surely be exploited by the Tromode second string who will be out to improve their already sizeable goal difference.
Ramsey must decide whether to break up a winning team to make way for Dan Stevenson and Ewan Heap to name but two players yet to figure in a northern win.
Castletown will have their hands full as they bid to rediscover their winning ways against an in-form Valkyrs.
Town are sitting one point above the westerners in the table but will have to dig deep to retain that advantage in what promises to be an exciting fixture.
Valkyrs boast a number of potential match-winners and with Gregg Miller a safe bet to figure in the scoring stakes this game should witness goals aplenty!
Men's division two
Phoenix B captain Dave Partington knows his side have not had the rub of the green so far this season. However, he will be determined to change that by securing a victory against Saracens.
Saracens will hope Steve Cottier is firing on all cylinders, and not running on half-empty, as his breaks from midfield are a key factor in the team's attacking play. This has the makings of a very interesting game — well worth watching.
Men's division three
Two sides battling for top place in this league meet when Vikings B take on Castletown B.
Vikings B have yet to drop a point or concede a goal so far this season and are the only team left in this division with a 100 per cent record.
Their squad features a good blend of youth and older heads and will be most people's favourites for the title.
Town captain David Quayle will already be aware of the strengths of his opponents and being the master tactician will no doubt have a cunning plan to thwart them.
An interesting game will be played out between Bacchas C and Valkyrs C, with the westerners aiming to clinch maximum points.
Both sides are introducing fresh faces into league hockey, being guided by some already well-worn ones, and this game could well end in a stalemate — but not for the lack of trying by both sets of players.
Women's division two
Castletown C may well field the same line-up that recorded a shock draw last week and the players will set out to prove that result was no fluke when they take on Vikings B.
The Vikings women are in the same strong position as their male counterparts — yet to suffer a defeat.
That record is likely to remain intact at the final whistle, despite the best efforts of Castletown C.
Bacchas B will be determined to put last week behind them and rediscover their winning formula against Harlequins B.
The Tromode side will be back to full strength with captain Elly Duchars returning to encourage her squad to a vital win.
However, Quins captain Nicola Whiting will be out to show her squad are no pushovers and contain more fizz then her team sponsors can bottle.
Current leaders Castletown B have a difficult game on their hands against a strong Valkyrs B.
If they come through this fixture unscathed a lot of the credit will go to Town's defensive line-up.
Saracens are set to lose their only goalscorer, Danielle Harvey, after this weekend and they will be hoping she can sign-off with sackful of goals.
However, that will not be an easy task against Valkyrs C who have a very well organised defence and a good attack.
Saturday, January 31
Men's division one
12.35 CRHS Datacentre Phoenix A v Vikings A
Jamie Stewart/Garreth Roome
14.05 CRHS Castletown A v Quinn Kneale Valkyrs A
Richard McAleer/Gary Corkhill
14.05 RGS Ramsey v IoMA Bacchas A
Keith Watterson/Karl Flint
Men's division two
12.35 RGS SAT Systems Saracens v D'centre Phoenix B
Jamie Cox/Gary Merrill
Men's division three
11.05 CRHS Castletown B v Vikings B
John Staines/Simon Harding
15.35 QEII Quinn Kneale Valkyrs C v IoMA Bacchas C
Helen Cowin/Alan Buxton
Women's division two
11.05 NSC Vikings B v Castletown C
Andrea Howroyd/Fiona Parpaillon
12.35 NSC Coca Cola Harlequins B v IoMA Bacchas B
Laurence Watterson/Dee Gimbert
14.05 QEII Quinn Kneale Valkyrs B v Castletown B
John Harrison/Ian Miller
15.35 RGS Q. Kneale Valkyrs C v SAT Systems Saracens
Jason Davies/Rob McKenzie
