North County v Ardmore
George Brolly’s side would have been hoping for a much less demanding ask than this when the draw was made, but a visit to Balrothery it is. The hosts have a superb pedigree in this (and in every other) competition but are without  Andre Botha due to injury, and  John Mooney who has college commitments. They still have a host of quality players in Reinhardt Strydom, Adrian Murphy, professional Denver de Cruz, skipper Richie Armstrong and the Armstrong brothers.
Ardmore have yet to taste victory in their two league games to date but have been performing well enough in defeat. They are weakened by the absence of Ciaran Curley, Kevin Martin and Gerard McAuley, so much will depend on the experience of Gerard and Paul Brolly and professional Riswan Aslam but anything other than a home win would be a massive surprise.
 
Merrion v Glendermott
The Rectory side are in just about the same boat as Ardmore, pointless after two games and on their travels to another Leinster venue where little comes easy. Matt Petrie has started the season in good form with the ball, and John Anderson and Rory  Allright are very dangerous players capable of taking the game away from the visitors on their own.
For Glendermott, their hopes hinge on the arrivals terminal at Belfast International airport. If Raza lands they have a chance, and if he doesn’t, only Russell, Thompson and Robinson look capable of giving them a chance. Difficult to see past a home win here too.
 
YMCA v Eglinton
Although they’re on their travels as well, Eglinton do at least have the benefit of a win under their belts this season, and one over Limavady no less at that. Professional Pravajan Mullick has hit the ground running and Craig Averill has recovered from an ankle injury but the Villagers batting line up still looks a little vulnerable to a good attack. Mullick will be key to their chances though and if he is in the mood, they could have a life.
Their hosts can call on the likes of Johnny Harte, Paul Beacroft and Angus Dunlop in what has the makings of a fairly close game to call.
 
CIYMS v DONEMANA
Yet again the Tyrone side have defied the critics with their start to the season and are on maximum league points after two outings. James McBrine has put his indifferent form of last season well behind him and started out this year with two half centuries. Azhar Shafiq was also on the mark at the weekend and with Junior McBrine and skipper Dwayne McGarrigle capable of plenty as well the home team have a difficult tie on their hands. The Belfast side have experienced pair Paul McCrum and Derek Heasley in their ranks and skipper Stephen Hughes will have his team well prepared for the challenge. Donemana with the bit between their teeth look favourites.
 
Instonians v Killymallaght
Inst, the Club Turf holders face one of the more testing challenges than looks instantly apparent. A side that boasts the likes of Andrew White, James Shannon and professional Shadab Kabir would normally be expected to blow away the likes of ‘Mallaght, but will find that not all in the North West is as it seems. This is a side that loves to be written off, thrives on unorthodox and fights like a bulldog with a toothache. Their win at Glendermott proved in no uncertain fashion the two things we’ve said all along. Their lower and middle order is totally bereft of any quality and yet there is enough pure heart to win them games at times.
This is a challenge that Killymallaght on paper couldn’t even contemplate. Anyone thinking that the visitors will care about that should drop by for a look, although heart alone surely won’t get them through here.
 
Strabane v Carrickfergus
This could be a decent contest, Strabane getting their first points on the board at the weekend taking on a team strengthened in recent times by the likes of Birch, Ervine and Oman Elliott. Ryan Eagleson’s team certainly has something of a multi-cultural blend, but they will travel north thinking they have a decent chance. Home skipper Peter Gillespie was in inspirational form at the weekend and with Phil Eaglestone struggling  with a medial ligament strain, his availability or otherwise could make all the difference. Mark Gillespie is another player the visitors will have to be very wary of and the hosts will start favourites to keep the North West flag at full mast.
 
Brigade v Cork Harlequins
If Ardmore thought that they had drawn the short straw then spare a thought for the Munster side who are faced both with a horrendous journey, and then a team from whom much is expected in this competition. The Cork team will be staring down the barrel of a line up containing Iftikhar Hussein, Wasti, Stephen Smyth, Charlie Elder, Gordon Cooke, Richard Wylie et al, and worse again, Brigade are sure to be smarting from their Charity cup defeat at the hands of Limavady on Monday. The draw has been kind to the Beechgrove team on this occasion and it will be a major surprise if they don’t take full advantage.
 
Limavady v Railway Union
This has all the makings of game of the day as two star studded sides come face to face at the Hunter Grounds. Roesiders’ skipper David Cooke suggested earlier this week that he may be missing two or three of his first choice XI and that would be a definite blow. Cooke was giving little away in terms of who the players were, but among them looks sure to be Des Curry who has been ruled out of their recent games after his partner was taken ill. The skipper will have been boosted by Monday’s win over Brigade but will know that more will be needed to overcome the challenge posed by a side boasting the likes of Kenny Carroll, Trent Johnston, Thinus Fourie, Tom Fisher, Trent Copeland and Connor Mullen. A big crowd looks assured at the County Derry venue and much could depend on the team that the hosts can put out. With home advantage they may just surprise their illustrious opponents.
 
Bready v Derriaghy
The visitors have been rebuilding to some extent in the past season or two although in skipper Andrew Kenny have one of the real competitors in the league. He is joined by professional Kauship Aphale and Derrick McCann as they travel to a Bready side who have made a reasonable start to the new season. Trevor Britton’s team eased passed Killymallaght in their opening game before coming unstuck at Limavady at the weekend. Bready’s batting was surprisingly poor on that occasion and the skipper will be demanding much better for this contest. Mark Olphert can expect to retain his place at the top of the order and the home team will be hoping that Frikkie Holtshauzen can put a few more runs on the board on Saturday. The home team should win, but really need to get their batting sorted out.
 
Fox Lodge v The Hills
Gary Neely’s team produced an excellent performance to claim the points against Glendermott on the opening day of the season and put up a decent performance when going to down to Brigade last week, but this represents a real tough challenge. Brian Allen has started well for the hosts but has again got himself into the habit of getting a good start before getting himself out. The North West Development Officer has the potential to give them a chance here, but the visitors are a really strong outfit. Opener Jeremy Bray should make a return to North West soil, and with the Clinton brothers, Van Der Merwe and of course the Dwyer family all expected to make the trip, this is one difficult task for the Foxes. If the weather holds it’s probably a fair assumption that we can expect to see some heavy scoring, but it looks equally predictable that the Leinster side will do most of it.