While the Irish Cup final takes centre stage in the NCU area today, the battle for points in the Premier League is due to resume, the majority of clubs having played only one game in the last four weeks.

Instonians are still setting the pace, having won eight of their first 10 matches and they will look to extend that lead against North Down at Shaw’s Bridge in the top match. However, they must face what could be a major obstacle in Paul Stirling who is available again for the visitors, after making his seasonal debut in the abandoned game with Civil Service North last Sunday.

CSN head to Wallace Park today, for the second time this season, where Lisburn are clear in second place and a repeat of their eight wickets win five weeks ago will keep the pressure on the leaders.

At the bottom, Woodvale are in urgent need of wins and will be hoping that Cliftonville Academy have tomorrow’s National Cup at the forefront of their minds when the teams meet at Ballygomartin Road.

In the North West, it’s a double header weekend for 11 of the 15 sides in the NW Premiership as the battle hots up for the title and top eight places which determine which next year’s top flight.

Bready have opened up a 16 points lead but have played one more match than nearest challengers Ardmore and Killyclooney, just two points further back.

Eglinton are the team currently in ninth place, but they are within a win of Donemana, Fox Lodge and Coleraine so there is still everything to play for with six matches remaining.

Meanwhile, Curtis Campher is enjoying his time at Somerset. The Ireland international, who hit a century in a friendly against Cornwall last week, took six wickets in his first two games in the One-Day Cup and yesterday hit 101 from 82 balls in their game against Sussex Sharks.