CRICKET: North Leinster open their defence of the Regional Challenge competition today with what should be a reasonably straightforward game against the Southern XI at Milverton (play starting at noon).

At least, that's what the team-sheets indicate. Fielding a side featuring several current and sometime internationals, Leinster also have the overseas quality of Naseer Shaukat from Rush and Phoenix's Tinus Fourie to make up a daunting interprovincial side.

At bat, it would be expected that Jason Molins, Jeremy Bray, Andre Botha, Trent Johnson, Eoin Morgan would rack up a match-winning total between them while, despite the loss of Greg Molins and Paul Mooney, the bowling is also formidable.

On the other side, the Southern XI boasts just one full international in Dominick Joyce and the side will also be without the services of his former Ireland teammate Peter Davy, who is at a wedding in England. That said, it should not be forgotten that the Southern XI were the only side to beat North Leinster last season and coach Brian O'Rourke is optimistic.

"To beat North Leinster is a huge ask but there is a good buzz in the team. We have prepared well for this and several of the guys are coming into some form at the moment so you never know," he said.

But if they are to have any chance of keeping the North Leinster total down, the Southern frontline attack of Bruce Koch and Roger Whelan will have to put the brakes on the Molins/Bray juggernaut in the early overs, giving the likes of Michael Lax and spinner Richard Hastie the opportunity to make an impact later on.

But Milverton is not a huge ground and with a good track, expect the bat to dominate. The in-form Carl Hosford of YMCA and Railway Union's Conor Mullen will be hoping to make an impression against the all-pace attack of North Leinster.

Meanwhile, in Lisburn, an experienced North West side should have the beating of the NCU despite the presence of Kyle McCallan and Andy White, both of whom played crucial roles in Ireland's historic victory over Surrey in the C&G Trophy 10 days ago. For the North West, the Cooke brothers, Gordan and David, the Gillespies, Peter and Mark, and Junior McBrine of Donemana should be too strong for youngsters of the North.

Back in Leinster, the Lewis Hohn Williams League resumes on Sunday with Pembroke attempting to keep their 100 per cent record in Section A intact by beating Railway at home in the Park Avenue derby. Malahide, though, will want to exert some pressure on them at the top of the table as they travel to Anglesea Road to take on Merrion.

In Section B, Phoenix should be too strong for Leinster in the park while the pick of the matches could well be at Milverton as The Hills will be determined not to fall to their neighbours, North County.