Leinster face Rush in a do or die play-off clash to decide the final promotion/relegation positions to the Mason Alexander, LHW Financial Planning Cricket Leinster Premier League for 2019 on Saturday.
Leinster, Premier League champions just a season ago, come into the play-off having finished 7th in the table and having failed to chase 192 against North County last weekend, losing by 3-runs.
That was their third league defeat in a row since beating bottom of the table Phoenix, their only league victory since July 14th. They do, however, boast the captain of the Leinster Lightning, George Dockrell, and Lightning opener, Gareth Delany, in their ranks.
Rush meanwhile have Stephen Doheny, fresh from a first-class 50 for the Lightning and another half-century for the Ireland Wolves in Bristol. Captain Neil Rock has had an impressive debut season with the Northern Knights and Rush only finished second to the invincible Malahide in the Russell Court Division 2.
Two weeks ago, they won the National Cup, defeating Limerick by 26-runs in a thriller, before they beat Railway Union by 4-wickets last weekend in another excellent contest to firm up their play-off place.
The advantage on form may lie with Rush.
Originally the game was slated for Rathmines as Leinster had offered early in the year to host the play-off. With a neutral venue needed for the match, Cricket Leinster and North County have been able to facilitate a fixture swap that sees the play-off go ahead at Inch.
Rush, used to the tight confines of Kenure, might be happier with the smaller outfield to cover but Leinster will have no fears in travelling to a ground they know well from Premier League action over the years.
A case can be made for either side emerging victorious tomorrow with the overall balance of the Leinster side matching up to the mix of youthful talent and older nous of Rush.
There will be updates throughout what promises to be an intriguing match on @CricketLeinster on Twitter, the HBV Studios cameras will be there for a Game of the Day production, and there will also be a full written match report here on the website. The action at North County CC gets underway at 11am.
Mason Alexander, LHW Financial Planning Cricket Leinster Premier League
Promotion/Relegation Play-Off
Leinster CC v Rush CC, at North County CC, Saturday September 15th, 11am start