UCC face one of the toughest assignments of their season, an away date at Queen’s University in the Women’s EYHL Division 2.
After losing their first three matches of the campaign, the Mardyke outfit has dragged themselves back into contention on all fronts.
Seven Munster League wins have come in succession — the last four with clean sheets from goalkeeper Hannah Humphries — while they also have a provincial cup final to look forward to.
EYHL2, though, is the big one with a possible promotion to the national division the prize on offer.
To do this, they need to finish in the top two of their five-team pool to reach the play-offs.
Wins over Greenfields (4-1) and Corinthian (3-1) have put the Cork side back in the frame on this front but Queen’s have been the standard setters with Irish internationals Jessica McMaster and Erin Getty leading the way.
In the other pool, Catholic Institute also face a tricky road-trip away to Lurgan.
The Limerick side have a perfect record in all competitions and shaded a 3-2 thriller against Lurgan in October, and a victory would pretty much assure their place in the play-offs with three games to spare.
In the top tier, Cork Harlequins bid to continue their excellent run of away form in the EY Hockey League when they go to Milltown to play Old Alex.
Three-quarters of their 12 points have come on the road with last Sunday’s final second defeat to All-Ireland champions Loreto the only blemish on their record.
They did lose to Alex at Farmers’ Cross but the Dublin club has not won in five outings.
In the men’s competition, Cork C of I will look to build on their encouraging performance against Banbridge in their game at Glenanne.
In EYHL2, Bandon must get something from their tie against Bangor at home to have a realistic chance of reaching the promotion play-offs.
Ali Smith’s side are four points off second-placed Railway Union but face an onerous task against UCD.
For UCC’s men, anything other than a win will see them mathematically eliminated with two games still to play.