Hockey: Rob Barr admits the pressure is on as Grange bid to keep top spot

There is an air of expectation in the Grange camp as they prepare to take on second-placed Western Wildcats at Peffermill today in an effort to maintain their unbeaten record and a six-point lead at the top of the Subway national league.

"Success drives expectation, so every game is important for us as we look to keep our position at the top of the table,'' said Rob Barr, Grange's captain.

"We have a great chance to achieve something from the league this season, but we can't afford to slip up and give ground back to the teams chasing us."

But Barr is aware that crunch time is just around the corner. "I expect Western and Kelburne to finish at the top end of the league, so our next three games against Western and Kelburne twice will be significant."

The only blemish in Grange's perfect record in the first half of the season was inflicted by the Wildcats, but Barr knows it could have been worse.

At Auchenhowie the Edinburgh outfit found themselves three down just after half-time, but the recovery was initiated by goals from Phil Sully, Callum Milne and Barr himself to salvage a 3-3 draw.

Barr is full of respect for the Wildcats and said: "They are a well organised side and have good experience right through the team, but their real strength lies in their forward line, who are capable of scoring lots of goals."

Last weekend the Wildcats gave Aberdeen Asset Management a nine- goal mauling, with Scott McCartney and Douglas Simpson grabbing all the goals.

Now Barr is aware his defence will have to neutralise the Wildcats' two predators if Grange hope to come away with all three points.

Inverleith have won their last two outings, against Aberdeen and AMN Hillhead, but may find third-placed Greaves Clydesdale at Titwood a more daunting assignment.

Clydesdale won 3-1 at Peffermill earlier in the season, and a similar result is likely if the Titwood outfit play to their potential.

Elsewhere, Edinburgh University are at home to the unpredictable VWS Dundee Wanderers and Glynhill Kelburne would expect to see off Grove Menzieshill on Tayside, while Hillhead should progress up the division at the expense of Aberdeen.

In the women's league, Cala and Grange EL are locked into a local derby in the capital, with the former favourites after winning the initial encounter 2-0.

But the game of the day brings together a Giffnock side undergoing a renaissance under player/coach Rhona Simpson and VWS Dundee Wanderers, who have ambitions to break into the Grove-Western monopoly.

A lot may depend on how well the Taysiders can contain the former double Olympian, who scored twice in each of the recent victories over Cala and Western.

Elsewhere, there should be comfortable wins for Grove Menzieshill, Milne Craig CW and Kelburne, as they are up against sides from the lower reaches of the table, in Western Wildcats, Hillhead and Edinburgh University respectively.