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Andrew White has fond memories of Ireland�s first one-day international at Stormont. The, then, Northamptonshire batsman was second top scorer in that never-to-be-forgotten match against England in front of the biggest crowd ever to watch a match in this country.

This weekend, Ireland play their second and third ODIs at home, against India and South Africa, and while the ICU will be doing well to attract 7,500 people over the course of the five internationals between the three counties over the next 10 days, it is Ireland�s opportunity to be in the shop window and White is thrilled to be a part of it.

�We had waited such a long time for the England match last year and it was important it was not a off-off. I believe it is more than 20 years since India have been here and with the calibre of players in their side it should be a good spectacle,� said White.

The game should have been a fitting homecoming for Ireland�s World Cup squad - their first match back against Kent in the Friends Provident Trophy in April proved to be a damp squib - but although their last game in the West Indies was just 66 days ago, only six members of that team will be facing the tourists this weekend.

�The team is unrecognisable from World Cup but I hope the boys who have been in the West Indies can lead from the front and put in strong performances. Having said that, I don�t see (South African) Thinus Fourie or (Australian) Alex Cusack being phased with their background..�

But White admits that their experience of playing against the best nations in the world is sure to stand them in good stead this weekend.

�We are well over the time when Irish players were looking at the badge on the front of the helmet or the name on the shirt. We are now bowling at the stumps and looking at the ball. Having faced the best, and beaten them, we don�t fear anyone and we know that we can compete if we play well on the day.�

So, of all the big names that White will be facing on Saturday and Sunday, who is he looking forward to the most?

�Personally, I�m looking forward to meeting up with (Suarav) Ganguly again. I spent a lot of time with him at Northants and got on well with him. But it will be a great experience, if I get the chance, to bowl at Sachin Tendulkar and bat against the likes of Zaheer Khan.

�Having played South Africa twice in the West Indies we have played a lot against Andre Nel, Andrew Hall - he�s an awkward customer - and Charl Langeveldt. But both teams have big names all the way down the order and it�s one thing playing against them in the West Indies, but up the road at Stormont is really special.�

�With the seats in it looks perfect, that�s the main memory of the England game, even more than my very satisfying innings (40 off 46 balls).

The major disappointment for White is that the crowd at Stormont on Saturday will be restricted because there is a full club programme in all three major unions in Ireland on the same day.

�I think the unions have got it wrong on this occasion. It should be a closed Saturday throughout Ireland because it will probably be the only time cricketers here will get the chance to see Tendulkar batting against Ireland. Certainly I�ve been talking to a number of players and that�s their feeling. It�s a missed opportunity.

�This is a big occasion for Irish cricket and you have to make it available to Irish cricket public.�

For the lucky people at Stormont on Saturday it should be a real treat.