Hockey: Rob Barr predicts toughest test of season for pacesetters

Tayside is the destination for today's Subway National League leaders Grange as they travel to face third-placed Grove Menzieshill with both sides recording good solid victories last weekend. Grange captain Rob Barr observed: "I think this will be our toughest game of the season so far. They have only lost two league games each by a single goal."

AMN Hillhead travel to Meadowmill to face Inverleith on a high after last week's fine result against Western Wildcats. Coach Keith Joss remarked: "The win has given the whole club a boost. The most pleasing aspect was the contribution of our home grown players with 10 of the 14 players involved having come through our junior programme."

Inverleith have had a strange mix of results so far this season as they come to terms with the loss of several players and collecting full points should not be outwith the Glasgow side's reach. However Joss warned "We need to guard against one good result being the highlight of our season."

VWS Dundee Wanderers' task of trying to halt the Glynhill Kelburne bandwagon at Riverside comes hard on the heels of their derby loss to Grove Menzieshill. Again Wanderers have had a mixed bag of results this season whilst the visitors are flying high after last weekend's results. Kelburne then host bottom club Aberdeen Asset Management tomorrow at Bellahouston.

Second-placed Greaves Clydesdale welcome Western Wildcats to Titwood for a Glasgow derby. Clydesdale will be keen to get their challenge back on the rails after Sunday's heavy defeat at the hands of Kelburne.

Edinburgh University head north to take on an Aberdeen Asset Management side who will be desperate to open their account against a team still looking for their first win of the season.

The women's competition sees Giffnock sitting proudly on top having taken over from Kelburne, who lost out to Grove Menzieshill last weekend. Rhona Simpson's side are scheduled to face CALA Edinburgh whilst Kelburne will hope to take full points against a struggling Hillhead.

However, Grove could return to their customary position at the top by the end of the weekend if they can win today against Grange and then triumph in the Tayside derby against VWS Dundee Wanderers tomorrow. Iain Strachan's charges will have a big say in that outcome but first must see off the challenge of Edinburgh University in Edinburgh.

Milne Craig Clydesdale Western face an important weekend with a home game against Western Wildcats and an away visit to Grange. Full points are essential if Western hope to mount any sort of challenge for the title.as they are already well behind schedule in that respect.