CRICKET WEEKEND PREVIEW:DEFENDING CHAMPIONS North County lead eight Leinster sides into battle in the second round of the Bob Kerr Irish Senior Cup today when they take on North West side Brigade at Balrothery.
The two sides met at the same stage of the competition last year, with County easing to a 109-run victory on their way to winning their fourth title in seven years.
The new ruling allowing the participation of professionals in the competition benefits both sides, but Brigade have an ace up their sleeve in former Pakistan international Wajahatullah Wasti, one of a small group of players to score a century in both innings of a Test match.
Former Pakistan A player Iftikhar Hussein is also included in the Derry side's line-up, with ex-Irish internationals Stephen Smyth and Gordon Cooke giving them a very strong look with both bat and ball.
Whether it is enough to breach the fortress at Balrothery is another matter and County skipper Andre Botha believes his side are up to the challenge.
"I'm confident we have a good side and I know what we are capable of as a team if we execute our game plan. If Brigade are good enough to beat that then fair play to them," remarked the Ireland all-rounder.
Conor Armstrong made a century, with Reinhardt Strydom hitting 90 as County made 292 in last year's game and both are included for today's game.
The addition of Adrian Murphy and Brian Shields has increased the side's batting strength this year and it could be a high-scoring affair this afternoon.
Two other Leinster sides travel to the North West in their matches, with CYM facing a daunting trip to play a Donemana side that are four points clear in the league and who include Azhar Shafiq, who already has 700 runs beside his name this season.
Having beaten Fox Lodge in the first round, The Hills are on the road again against a Bready team that will be without Ireland Under-19 batsman Chris Dougherty, who is still at university in England.
Leinster staged a daring raid on Stormont last time out thanks to Keeley Todd's unbeaten 173 against CSNI. An Instonians side including Andy White await them this time in another tough tie.
There are two ties pitting Leinster sides against each other, with Merrion likely to have too much firepower for YMCA at Anglesea Road, while Rush play host to Clontarf in what could prove another high-scoring encounter.
The first gong of the local season is up for grabs tomorrow when North County and Pembroke meet in the DGM 45-overs League Final at Milverton (12.0).
Despite a promising start to the season and with under-19 internationals Andrew Balbirnie, Theo Lawson and Graham McDonnell in good touch, it might be just too much of an ask for them to topple the mighty Fingal side this time around.
NORTH COUNTY(v Brigade, Sat and Pembroke, Sun): A Botha (Capt), C Armstrong, D Armstrong, D De Cruz, C Garry, D Harper, R Lawrence, A Murphy, E Richardson. B Shields, R Strydom.
PEMBROKE(v North County): P Byrne (Capt), A Balbirnie, J Byrne, J Cooke, R Francis, R Hopkins, T Lawson, G McDonnell, B O'Rourke, B Whaley, E Whaley.
IRELAND UNDER-19(Squad v MCC, Carrickfergus, Friday June 20th, 11.30): A Balbirnie (Pembroke), J Blakiston-Houston (Strabane), A D'Arcy (Clontarf), G Dockrell (Leinster), N Donnell (Brigade), S Getkate (Malahide), D McCarter (Killyclooney), G McDonnell (Pembroke), L Nelson (Waringstown), E Richardson (North County), J Shannon (Instonians), P Stirling (Cliftonville). Coach: Matt Dwyer. Manager: Brian Walsh.
