Hockey: Slough chase European dream

The Higgins Group Indoor National Championships will take pride of place this afternoon in a busy programme of weekend action.

The indoor competition at Crystal Palace National Sports Centre is a sell-out and a place in Europe is up for grabs for the two winners. There will also be an almost complete National League line-up tomorrow and Sunday sees fifth-round ties in both the men and women's national cups.

Guildford men and Slough ladies, this season's European representatives, are in action, with Slough widely tipped to secure a record eighth appearance in 14 years of the European event. Slough's semi-final opponents, Chelmsford, are experienced European campaigners themselves but do not appear to have the firing edge to upset the defending champions. A depleted Slough women's side beat Trinidad and Tobago 7-4 on Monday, with Jane Smith scoring her ninth successive hat-trick.

Canterbury should get the better of Clifton in the second women's semi-final,with Mel Clewlow's shooting the key.

While Guildford men may see off St Albans in their semi-final on current form, their final opponents of Canterbury or Loughborough Students are likely to be too much for them. But any side which includes the old campaigner Ian Jennings in their ranks and Nick Taylor between the posts is likely to cause a surprise.

Loughborough Students, like Slough, are the in-form men's team. Although they will be without England international Jerome Goudie,they coasted through their League programme on maximum points.

With a solid Scottish pairing of James McBlane and David Ralph at the back, the rest of their players are potential goalscorers. At last, the University side look set to achieve their European dream.