It is pretty much league action all the way now until the senior cup final and we come to the turn of the season this weekend with a reverse of the opening day fixtures. A fairly quiet midweek means that all eyes will be focused on Saturday's full league programme as teams jockey for position going to the business end of the campaign. After last weekend's action there is plenty now to play for at both ends of the table so here's a look at what could turn out to be a very interesting day in the Billy Henderson Properties title and relegation battles.

COLERAINE V EGLINTON

This turned out to be a real thriller at the end of April as the Bannsiders got their campaign off to a winning start although the three-run margin showed how little there was between the teams. Coleraine subsequently inflicted a crushing defeat on the villagers in the senior cup however both sides have had their moments throughout the campaign. For Eglinton, Chris Pierce continues to lead the batting and despite not being at the top of his form in recent weeks, Richard Wylie remains a potent threat. Professional Ryan Butterworth hasn't quite been as prolific as he was in the opening weeks either but with new dad Richard Stewart now back in harness Eglinton are fairly close to full strength. The Bee Gees' win at home to Bready last week means that the villagers will now need to get at least another couple of points on the board if they aren't to be dragged in to another scrap. Coleraine will feel that they let their cup chances slip but will have little time to feel sorry for themselves as they aim for a top half finish. They have certainly missed skipper Tim Chopra who has been sidelined by injury and whilst the usual suspects of McGregor, Cooke and Dunn have led the way, the continued progress of Paul Douglas, Rishi Chopra and Sami Prakash has given added impetus. Form points to a home win here.

DONEMANA V STRABANE

The Holm side was overlooked by many in terms of title chances this season but Richard Kee's men have been very solid so far and started their campaign with an impressive win in the Park. It has been very much a team effort too; senior players like James, Junior, and Jordan McGonagle providing the platform from which the new breed have been able to pick up the pace. Ricky-Lee Dougherty has been sensational for Donemana this season as he and Andy McBrine have led the charge. Ryan Hunter, Ritchie McBrine and Graeme Boyd have all contributed as well and the former champions will feel they now have a real chance of being involved in the finish.

The champions haven't quite been able to dominate as in the past couple of seasons; injuries to Kevin Martin, Martin Deans and more latterly Mark Gillespie, coupled with Peter Gillespie's loss of form contriving to hold them up somewhat. The bowling hasn't clicked this year either with Fox Lodge, Bready and Limavady all coming close to or passing the 300 mark against them. Mind you, finishing the first half of the season joint top of the table is no bad effort in the circumstances and we have to remember that Strabane didn't drop a point on the back nine last year. Last weekend's loss at Limavady will have helped focus minds again and with the side slowly coming back to full strength the Red Caps will be hoping to keep their challenge bang on track.


FOX LODGE V BRIGADE

This has all the makings of a cracker and the hosts will be keen to show that they have improved from the opening day defeat in the reverse fixture when they let a golden opportunity slip through their fingers. The Foxies haven't quite been as dominant as many thought they would be and the league title now remains their only hope of silverware. Brian Allen's outfit remains one of the most compact sides in the league however so they will be desperate to show the belief that has been the only thing missing this season. Gareth Heywood continues to make good strides with the new ball and the all-round options of Darryl Brown, Johnny Robinson, Jason Milligan, Andrew McGinnis and Andy Britton are as good as any in the league Things are turning round in the away camp after a difficult spell too; Mark Simpson's side with an Irish Senior Cup semi final to look forward to however they will also have designs on regaining the senior title. Gareth McKeegan and Iftikhar Hussain were behind an improved batting performance in Dublin last weekend and if they get it right in that department in the second half of the season, Brigade will be a real handful. In a difficult game to call the visitors would start marginal favourites.

GLENDERMOTT V BREADY

Two sides who have been very in and out recently meet at the Rectory, the hosts on a poor run at the minute while the visitors appear to already have one eye on the senior cup final. Their losses at Fox Lodge and Bonds Glen will probably have ended any hopes of a title challenge and a brittle looking middle and lower order will need to be galvanized ahead of the show-piece decider. Little doubt that the top four or five is as good as most but they had definitely struggled for runs when the top order failed. With cup final places at stake there seems plenty of motivation for Trevor Hamilton's men whereas the hosts have looked a pale shadow of the side that de-railed Brigade's title challenge last month. Too many key players have come up short so far, professional Roy Silva, Craig Averill and Stephen Smyth much more solid than spectacular but none of them has been able to be the difference between winning and losing matches. The mood in the camp has remained fairly upbeat in the circumstances but it's fair to say even at this early stage that there will be changes at the end of this summer. Bready ought to claim the points here as the warm-up towards the senior final continues.

LIMAVADY V BONDS GLEN

David versus Goliath, prince versus pauper call it what you like but this is one of those games that the hosts can only lose and the visitors will order an open top bus should they win. At the outset it has to be said that although often out of their depth in this division the Bee Gees have continually refused to roll over and they have stood toe to toe with all comers and their win over Bready at the weekend was thoroughly deserved. Professional Gihan Dilruk started brightly in the first game but hasn't yet been able to push on but despite that the team have kept plugging away. It will be interesting to see what sort of reaction the Bee Gees' win will have prompted at places like Eglinton and Glendermott but you can be sure that it will send confidence levels in the visitors' camp soaring. Andrew Riddles' men, buoyed by that win against Strabane last week have their sights firmly fixed on a title challenge now and with professional Adnan Akmal finding his feet they have all the right credentials. They will feel that it is very definitely game on from here on in therefore anything less than a home win in this one will be a major shock.