WOMEN'S HOCKEY: Cup fever will hit Ipswich Ladies tomorrow when they meet Sutton Coldfield in the EHA semi-final at Milton Keynes. Victory will see them play either Olton or Leyland Motors – most likely the former – in the final the following day, but the Tuddenham Road side have a worry over Annette Strange.

By Martin White

CUP fever will hit Ipswich Ladies tomorrow when they meet Sutton Coldfield in the EHA semi-final at Milton Keynes.

Victory will see them play either Olton or Leyland Motors – most likely the former – in the final the following day, but the Tuddenham Road side have a worry over Annette Strange.

The key defender is suffering from bronchitis and may not be fit for both games so the highly experienced Debbie Rawlinson has been drafted into the squad, while striker Lizzie Aldous has still not recovered from the knee injury she suffered a month ago against Clifton.

Ipswich's record against Sutton over the past few years is good, but they can take no comfort from the fact that the midlanders won the league match in Suffolk last month and still have the return in the midlands in a fortnight's time.

Sutton have England and Great Britain's Jane Sixsmith as their creative talent but provided she can be marked tightly Ipswich should find themselves with the majority of attacking play.

The water-based playing surface at Milton Keynes will also be a major factor and the unusual bounce of the pitch should be an asset to the speed and skill of Ipswich captain Leisa King.