MAX Sorensen says The Hills are favourites to lift the RSA Leinster League Division 1 title as they head into today's showdown against YMCA at Milverton.

Hills are two points behind the leaders, with Merrion a further nine points behind, but Sorensen is convinced the winners of this top-of-the-table clash will win the league next Saturday.

"Merrion are one win behind and we are playing the bottom team in the league (Phoenix) in the final game, YMCA should beat Pembroke in their last game, so whoever wins on Saturday should win the league," said Ireland seamer Sorensen, who hopes to be in action against England in Tuesday's ODI at Malahide.

"We always back ourselves and try to play with freedom. Last week winning the Twenty20 Cup was a massive confidence booster. We played last weekend and YM didn't, so they could be rusty."

South African-born Sorensen also warned former team-mates Albert van der Merwe and Jeremy Bray that they could be in for some banter as they go for their first league title since 2008.

"JB and Albi were in that team so we will give them a lot of stick and to get a win would be even better," said Sorensen.

Merrion will be hoping for a tied game at Milverton to let them back into the title race but they probably have to get maximum points from their last two games at home to Pembroke today and North County next week.

Kevin O'Brien returns to a Railway Union side which didn't win a game while he was in the Caribbean and still need two points at North County to avoid relegation, assuming Leinster get all 25 points at home to Phoenix.