It's the last Saturday of the season and there is still everything to play for in the Ulster Bank Premier League — or maybe not!

The wettest August for 170 years has left clubs in the NCU so far behind that although tomorrow has the last set of scheduled fixtures, all 10 clubs have at least three games to play. For title contenders, North Down and Civil Service, they have still SEVEN to fit in.

North Down should have a straightforward weekend, if they can get out on the field. Tomorrow they are at home to Carrickfergus and on Sunday away to Derriaghy, two of the four clubs still facing relegation.

CSN are at home to Instonians and Lisburn which, if they both repeat last Saturday‘s horror batting shows, would make two more victories for the Stormont side a formality. There were mitigating circumstances for both teams last week, faced by pitches on which the best batsmen would struggle against a half-decent attack.

Instonians made only 86 but North Down were not going to turn that gift and duly crawled home in the 38th over. It is still pointing to a CSN-North Down showdown when the teams finally meet. The game is scheduled for Stormont on Sunday September 21

At the bottom, it will, almost certainly be one from three to go down because Cliftonville will be relegated even they finish outside the bottom two because they are no closer to finding a “home” ground for next season.

Derriaghy can ensure the NCU don’t have a decision to make by winning their first game of the weekend, against Cliftonville at Queensway and CIYMS can rubber-stamp it with victory next weekend over the homeless Greenisland side.

CI should be on the crest of a wave following their thrilling five wickets win over Derriaghy last weekend, a victory that brought them level on points with their opponents and just four behind Carrickfergus who are not out of danger yet because they have still to play both CI and Derriaghy as well as North Down twice and Waringstown.

Stephen Hughes, the CI skipper, who faces a double-header against Waringstown knows the weather could have another big say.

“We cannot have too much rain or Sunday’s game will be in danger but last week’s win gives us a chance.

“We’re all expecting Cliftonville to go down one way or the other so it looks like it’s between Derriaghy and ourselves. We’re at home to Carrick next Sunday and Bangor the following Sunday so we have a big chance to get to five wins which should ensure safety,” he said.

“At the start of the season, we said our aim was to hold on to our place in the Premier League and going into the final month we’ve still got a great chance.

“Apart from CSN no other team has blown us away and outside the top two, or three, we’ll always back ourselves to win.”

Fixtures (all 11.30am): Ulster Bank Premier League: TOMORROW: Bangor v Lisburn, Civil Service North v Instonians, Derriaghy v Cliftonville, North Down v Carrickfergus, Waringstown v CIYMS. SUNDAY: CIYMS v Waringstown, Civil Service North v Lisburn, Derriaghy v North Down.

Section Two: TOMORROW: Armagh v Saintfield, Downpatrick v Dundrum, Laurelvale v Ballymena, Lurgan v Woodvale, Downpatrick v Dundrum. SUNDAY: Armagh v Holywood, Downpatrick v Saintfield, Dundrum v Laurelvale (Saintfield), Woodvale v Muckamore.

Section Three: TOMORROW: Cregagh v BISC, Donacloney v Millpark, Dungannon v Academy (Newforge), Dunmurry v Templepatrick, Larne v Cooke Collegians. Sunday: Academy v Larne, Dunmurry v Cooke Collegians, Millpark v Dungannon.

Henderson Properties Senior League One (1pm): TOMORROW: Donemana v Brigade, Glendermott v Bready, Strabane v Killymallaght. SUNDAY (2pm): Brigade v Ardmore.