Following the exciting mixed hockey season finishing last week, attention now moves to the split genders with the men’s and women’s campaigns starting.

With the season scheduled to continue until April, it is going to be a long season for many and nothing will be decided yet, but that does not mean we won’t see some incredible hockey this weekend.

No fewer than four inter-club derbies are taking place on Saturday, which are always great days for the clubs involved.

Valkyrs have a whole day at their home pitch with a team involved in all four games in Peel which always creates a great crowd for the teams.

In the Rossborough Men’s Premier League, both games are inter-club derbies with Vikings A taking on Vikings B and Valkyrs A facing Valkyrs B.

Both Vikings B and Valkyrs B are likely contenders for relegation this year so they will be looking to gain a point at best and at worst keep the deficit in terms of goals low.

With Vikings A not playing in Rossborough Women’s Premier League this weekend, the other teams will be looking to put them under early pressure.

Valkyrs A will be aiming to score a few goals past their own B team, while Bacchas A and Castletown provide what is one of the games of the day with both teams looking to improve further on last season’s performances.

Rossborough Men’s Division One sees Bacchas B - as one of the early championship favourites - take on Harlequins A. The latter have some incredible players and will be hoping to take an early scalp this weekend.

Castletown A are also one of the favourites this year as they managed to recruit a number of former Saracens stars and will be hoping this drives them into the top flight when they take on a Vikings C side packed with experience.

Rossborough Women’s Division One will be a tight affair this year with two or three sides challenging for the title. Old rivals Bacchas B take on Vikings B with both teams harbouring ambitions of promotion and probably taking the favourites tag.

But Valkyrs C will always have something to say in the destination of the title and they will be hoping that they can maintain the title charge throughout the season, starting against Harlequins in their opening game.

It is difficult to call an early favourite for the title in Rossborough Men’s Division Two, but an early contender for many people is Bacchas Colts.

Even if they lose or drop points early on, they always tend to come back strong and you cannot count out Valkyrs C or Castletown Colts either.

If Ramsey B can improve their strength in depth then there is no doubt that they will also threaten the top of the table as well.

Rossborough Women’s Division One will also be a similarly tight affair, with no team being picked as outright favourites early on.

Things will be much clearer after the first couple of games but this reporter’s pick would be Castletown Colts for the title.

Knowing one or two of the young players that will more than likely be playing in that side, they should be a side to be reckoned with.

Rossborough Men’s Premier League

12.30pm Canaccord Genuity Wealth Vikings A

v Canaccord Genuity Wealth Vikings B @ NSC

2pm Motorworx Valkyrs A

v Motorworx Valkyrs B @ QEII

Rossborough Women’s Premier League

12.30pm Motorworx Valkyrs A

v Motorworx Valkyrs B @ QEII

2pm J Qualtrough & Co Ltd Castletown A

v Ramsey Crookall Cronkbourne

Bacchas A @ KWC

Rossborough Men’s Division One

11am Ramsey Crookall Cronkbourne Bacchas B

v Athena Healthcare Harlequins A @ KWC

12.30pmJ Qualtrough & Co Ltd Castletown A

v Canaccord Genuity Vikings C @ KWC

Rossborough Women’s Division One

11am Athena Healthcare Harlequins

v Motorworx Valkyrs C @ NSC

11am Canaccord Genuity Vikings B v Ramsey Crookall Cronkbourne Bacchas B @ RGS

Rossborough Men’s Division Two

11am Ramsey Crookall Cronkbourne Bacchas C

v J Qualtrough & Co Ltd Castletown Colts @ CRHS

2pm Athena Healthcare Harlequins B

v Exceed Business Services Ramsey B @ NSC

Rossborough Women’s Division Two

12.30pm J Qualtrough & Co Ltd Castletown C

v J Qualtrough & Co Castletown Colts @ CRHS

Rossborough Mixed Under-16s

3.30pm Swales Flooring Harlequins

v J Qualtrough & Co Ltd Castletown @ NSC

3.30pm Motorworx Valkyrs

v Exceed Business Services Ramsey @ QEII