CUP BACKLOG MEANS ACTION PACKED WEEK FOR ALL CLUBS

Last Saturday's washout of the Northern Bank senior cup second round means that those fixtures are now carried forward to this weekend whilst the scheduled league programme is pushed back a few days and will now go ahead straight after the completion of the cup games. Organisers will be looking anxiously skywards at this point as any further interruptions will really throw the season into chaos as the quarter final ties are due to be played on Saturday week. We previewed the cup matches last time so with a return to league action hopefully imminent we're looking here at the upcoming fixtures. Brigade currently lead the way in the top flight of the Billy Henderson Properties table, the Beechgrove side the only one in the Division still unbeaten after just two games. At the other end newly promoted Bonds Glen are the only side without a point and the competitive nature of the title race is such that the 8 teams in between top and bottom have all won one from two.

BRIGADE V BONDS GLEN

It doesn't get any easier for the Bee Gees and although they've put up stubborn resistance in their two outings to date it's becoming increasingly difficult to see where that all important first win will come from. They certainly won't want to think too far ahead but Gary Hamilton will probably have looked at this fixture at the start of the season and thought there will be better opportunities during the summer. That's not to say his side will travel to Beechgrove with any trepidation because it's the type of game that the Bee Gees can really afford to have a lash. For their part the hosts will want to build on their solid start and although they were given scares by both Fox Lodge and Bready you can't take it away from Mark Simpson's side that they fought back to win both league outings to date. Despite the concerns, Brigade's overseas man Ata-Ur-Rehman has proved a lively addition to the team and is joined by a host of quality that will cause the visitors no end of problems. You would think that only more rain could prevent a home win in this one.

EGLINTON V GLENDERMOTT

With top playing bottom the other four ties this weekend look like the flip of a coin and that is certainly the case here. The 2010 version of Eglinton has been lost to the sands of time and the new model has already proved that they can be a match for anyone when they're on song. They started slowly on the opening day, losing by just 3 runs to Coleraine but have recorded two thumping wins against Donemana and Cork County since then. Skipper Andy Christie has been joined by new professional Ryan Butterworth and the Zimbabwean has added genuine quality and belief to the villagers' squad. Throw in Richard Wylie, Johnny Gardiner, Chris Pierce and the Stewart brothers Richard and Neal and you have the nucleus of a very combative side. That said the visitors are a solid unit themselves and skipper Gordon Montgomery is joined by Stephen Smyth, Roy Silva, Craig Averill and Bob Robinson. Charlie Elder and Peter Allen starred in their Bob Kerr and Ulster Cup wins as well and they will see this as a game they can win. It's evens your pick here with home advantage the only molecule of advantage that could decide the outcome.

FOX LODGE V DONEMANA

Despite their opening day loss at Beechgrove and subsequent cruel exit from the Bob Kerr Irish Senior Cup we have seen enough from the Foxes this year to suggest that they have a real chance of silverware this season. Skipper Brian Allen has started well and leads a side that has real balance to it; Andy Britton, Gareth Heywood, Andrew McGinnis and Darryl Brown providing the seam options with Jonny Robinson and Jason Milligan able to mix things up. All of the above are more than capable with the bat as well, possibly young Heywood apart, and it would be no surprise to see the Ballymagorry men right in the thick of things as the summer progresses.

Donemana have blown hot and cold so far; stunning wins at Strabane Park and Rush sandwiched by a tonking at home to Eglinton in the league. Professional Kamran Sajid has had a week to find his bearings now and will have seen enough to know that James and Junior continue to form the cornerstone of the Holm club's aspirations. Dwayne McGarrigle has also been in good touch on his comeback and young Ricky-Lee Dougherty has definitely wintered well. Again only millimetres between this pair with the Foxes' home advantage the only reason to make the call.

LIMAVADY V COLERAINE

A repeat of last week's Faughan Valley game this one although it's an altogether different proposition for both clubs. For a start the hosts will have professional Adnan Akmal available; the Pakistan International having made his debut for the Roesiders in Sunday's Ulster Cup clash with Lisburn. Andrew Riddles' side has made an indifferent start themselves and struggled early on before overcoming Bonds Glen in their opener before being thumped by Fox Lodge. It needed solid knocks from Adam McDaid, who has started well, and Mark McDaid to get them past The Nedd in their second round cup tie but with Des Curry likely to burst into action at any time you just know they're going to hit their stride sooner rather than later. The biggest threat to Limavady in their Faughan Valley match came in the shape of their former opener Ian McGregor and you can bet your boots that he and another ex- Roesider, David Cooke, will be intent on defying their former team mates again here. Charlie McCrum is also expected to play in this one and the Bannsiders have enough of a supporting cast to make this a very interesting day. The Akmal factor could be pivotal to the outcome.

STRABANE V BREADY

In a weekend of tough to call matches we have nothing easier to finish with as two sides who have spent the best part of the last two seasons contesting the business end of the championship clash at the Park. Peter Gillespie missed Sunday's game at Carrickfergus with a neck strain but he, Martin Deans and Kevin Martin could all feature here for the champions. New Ireland cap Niall McDonnell, Mark Gillespie and skipper Jonathan Beukes help to give Strabane's batting a really strong top five or six and whilst the bowling has struggled a little so far the holders will be keen to strengthen their hand here. For their part Bready haven't quite hit the heights yet either and skipper Trevor Hamilton will be a little concerned at the fact that their middle order has looked vulnerable on more than one occasion this season already. Ian Young continues to struggle with injury but with Steven Clarke back in the side the chances are that they will be more difficult to break down now. Professional Aga Sabir Ali has added stability and David Rankin, Brian Scanlon, David Scanlon, Mark Olphert and David Lecky have also made useful contributions as well. It's a difficult contest to weigh up but a full strength Strabane could be hard to beat.