Dublin's Eoin Kennedy and Cavan's Michael Finnegan will contest the first of the M DONNELLY All-Ireland Senior semi-final's at Croke Park this Saturday.
Kennedy is bidding for a sixth consecutive title having dominated the big alley code since the turn of the century.
This weekend he faces difficult opposition in the determined Kingscourt clubman, but, with the home crowd on his back and a wealth of experience on the Headquarters stage, a Dublin victory looks probable.
'It's going to be a tough battle with Michael; he's an excellent big alley player and he won't be coming to Croke Park to make up the numbers,' said Kennedy. 'Hopefully it will be a good game and things go right for me on day.'
Finnegan defeated Limerick young-gun Seamus O'Carroll in his quarter-final clash, while Kennedy easily dismissed the challenge of Brian Carroll (Meath).
The Breffni handballer is one of only three players to collect three All-Ireland Minor Softball titles and has massive experience on the big stage, having collected numerous All-Ireland 40x20 titles. Kennedy, however, will carry a strong favourite's tag into the clash.
Meanwhile, Westmeath's Robbie McCarthy faces former Wexford hurler, Gavin Buggy in the second of Saturday's semi-finals at handball headquarters.
McCarthy, from the Mullingar Club, meets Buggy in one of the most eagerly-awaited games of the championship. The Lake County man had an outstanding victory in the quarter-final, when he dispatched of Mayo kingpin Dessie Keegan after a thrilling 21-19 tiebreaker. This weekend, however, he faces a very different opponent in Buggy.
'Gavin has two great hands and moves very well around the court,' said McCarthy.
'He's clinical and I will really have to be at the top of my game to beat him, but I'm confident that I can.'
The Ladies Senior Doubles Final also takes place this weekend with a cracking game in store between Kerry and Roscommon, as Kingdom siblings, Ashley and Maeve Prendiville take on Katie Costello and Deirdre Donohoe in Crinkle.
Ashley was defeated by Limerick's Bernie Hennessy in last weekend’s Senior Singles Final and will be hoping to avenge that defeat.
