The first and second teams are involved in season-defining games over the weekend.

Opposition: Pembroke

Time and Venue: 1.30 Serpentine Avenue

Last time they met: In competitive terms it was the inaugural IHL final. Pembroke beat Glens 2-1 on penalty shuttles after the two sides played out a 2-2 draw in normal time.

Home form: WWWWW

Away form: WWWWL

Preview: Taking the last two or three seasons into consideration, there is no doubt that these are the best two sides in Ireland. However, using the same criteria there is no doubt Pembroke are the best. The Ballsbridge side have something of a hoodoo over Glens in All-Ireland competition (knocking them out of the last 4 All-Ireland Championships and last year's Irish Senior Cup) but when it comes to provincial matches the record is incredibly even. Of the last ten meetings in Leinster each side has 4 wins each with 2 draws. Add in the fact that the last three meetings in all competitions have ended in draws after 70 minutes and we get an indication of how close these encounters tend to be. Glens go into the tie in 5th place but with 5 wins from 5 while Wanderers are top with and 8-0 record. One teams', or in fact both teams', winning record will go this weekend. Home advantage should not be seen as a big factor as two of those four wins for Glenanne came in Serpentine Avenue, both in the 2006/2007 season (one was the Neville Cup final).

1) Two defences with plenty to think about: Wanderers love scoring goals and they're pretty good at it as well with 50 goals in 8 league games so far this season. However, if there is one defense with an ability to stop them it is Glens who limited them to three in their last two meetings between the sides. Gordan Elliot and Justin Sheriff are also out. Another factor is how comfortable the away side have looked up front this season as well, notching 27 goals in 5 league games. However, they have yet to meet a serious defence i.e. Pembroke who have 4 of the Irish back 5 starting in their ranks.

2) Davy Harte's game-winning moments: The Pembroke goalkeeper usually makes the difference when Pembroke beat Glenanne. This was particularly the case in the last two games which were won in penalty shootouts. Glens need to find a way past him tomorrow.

3) Richie Shaw's Pembroke performances: The 21-year-old always seems to keep his best games for when he is facing purple and yellow shirts. Another one tomorrow is imperative for Glenanne.

Opposition: Annadale (Irish Junior Cup)

Time and Venue: 3.45 Glenanne Park

Last time they met: Technically two weeks ago when heavy fog caused this re-fix. Before that it was in 2006 when 'Dale' knocked Glens out of the IJC in the first round with a 3-2 victory.

Home form: LWWDW

Away form: DWWWW

Preview: Surpisingly, for two sides from differing provinces at this level, there is some history there. The first game which comes to mind is the Irish Junior Cup final in April 2006 which Annadale won 2-1. There is an argument that the final represents little within this squad now as only 4 (Kevin O'Malley, Eddie O'Malley, Clinton Murphy, John Stewart) of the 16 selected for the final will be involved tomorrow. However, more might remember the 3-2 loss in Glenanne Park 5 months later as more concentrating given it was in the early stages of a competition which is all about developing a confident run. The two sides were due to play out this tie two weeks ago but the fog had its way with Glens leading 1-0 through a very early Gary Shaw goal. However, a confidence boosting win last weekend over a Pemrboke side they had not beaten in at least 5 years is exactly what they needed going into this game. 'Dale will have former internationals Davy Smyth and Chris Jackson in their side and have only lost once in the league this season, to Lisnagarvey 2XI. A real cracker is on the cards.

1) Gary Shaw's dragflick's: Shaw has brought more dynamism to the Glens corner set-piece this year and helped himself to two last Sunday against Wanderers. The goalkeeping may have been suspect on that occasion but a similar return should suffice tomorrow.

2) Annadale's ex-internationals: Davy Smyth and Chris Jackson are likely to play sweeper and center midfield for the visitors. The two are recently retired internationals and will bring not only experience but serious ability to GP tomorrow. Handling them is key to Glens fortunes.

3) The fog?: Let's hope it stays away this time.

Opposition: Avoca

Time and Venue: 1.30 Glenanne Park

Last time they met: An end of season game in April last year ended 2-1 to the Glens.

Home form: WLLWL

Away form: LDLLL

Preview: Neither side is in great form with Glens only win in their last four games coming last Saturday in what was, essentially, a back's to the wall job in the second half. Avoca, meanwhile, have yet to pick up a win this season and are bottom of the division.

1) Glen's attempts to put a run together: Glenanne's next three games come against the three bottom side's in the division - Avoca, Three Rock and YMCA. Meanwhile, in that time, leaders Pembroke - who are 10 points ahead of Glenanne - will travel to Kilkenny and Mullingar and face third place Railway Union. Glenanne must collect nine points if they are to put together a title challenge, still a slim prospect given their end of season form last year.

2) A lack of goals in the Glenanne attack: This has been a cronical problem all season with the thirds who have only scored 12 goals in 8 league games. The only teams with worst records than that are tomorrow's opponents and Mullingar, who have played two less games. Glens have the fifth best defensive record in the division.

Opposition: YMCA

Time and Venue: 12.30 Claremont Road

Last time they met: N/A

Preview: Glens grabbed a late draw last week thanks to Andy Kennedy's super sub role up front but are still too close to the bottom of the division for comfort. A  three goal win tomorrow will see them leapfrog their opponents in the standings.