It proved two players and one match too far for North Down last Monday as they lost their 100% record in the Ulster Bank Premier League at Wallace Park but, back at full strength, the defending champions are ready for their biggest weekend of the season.

Peter Connell and Ryan Haire return from Ireland duty to take their places in tomorrow’s tricky game, against Instonians at Shaw’s Bridge, and then the mammoth first league clash of the season against Civil Service North, the team they now share the top of the table with, on Sunday.

Peter Shields , the North Down captain, was making no excuses for their first defeat.

“We let ourselves down with the ball at Lisburn. They were difficult conditions and 180 was above par,” he said. “I’m not making excuses because we can win without Ryan and Peter but we were without our best batsman and best bowler. Yes, it’s a big weekend but they are all big games now. We’re neck and neck with CSN and neither of us can afford to slip up. It’s a good way to be. It will be nice to be back at The Green on Sunday, safe in the knowledge that if it is dry overhead we’ll play. We’re supposed to be at Shaw’s Bridge on Saturday.

“That will not be easy either but when we are at full strength we are still a formidable outfit.”

North Down’s only danger is if there is another rained off game before the end of next month, then the season will drag on to the final weekend when Connell will have already left for Ireland’s last two Inter-Continental Cup games in Africa.

It was Connell’s absence which was one of the key factors in North Down’s Challenge Cup semi-final defeat to their rivals from Stormont and the presence of Ireland opening batsman Gary Wilson in the visitors’ line-up that day — and he is available again this weekend.

First up for CSN tomorrow is a game against Cliftonville. Cliftonville’s relegation rivals — two teams go down — Derriaghy and CIYMS meet at Queensway.

There could be more good news for both struggling teams tonight because Cliftonville start the Premier League weekend today with a 39 overs game against Waringstown at The Lawn.

Fixtures: Ulster Bank Premier League - TODAY: (2pm): Waringstown v Cliftonville. TOMORROW (12.00): Bangor v Waringstown, Carrickfergus v Lisburn, Civil Service North v Cliftonville, CIYMS v Derriaghy, Instonians v North Down. SUNDAY (12.00): Bangor v Carrickfergus, CIYMS v Instonians, North Down v Civil Service North.

Section Two:

TOMORROW: Armagh v Downpatrick, Muckamore v Lurgan, Saintfield v Ballymena, Woodvale v Laurelvale. SUNDAY: Downpatrick v Holywood, Saintfield v Woodvale.

Section Three:

TOMORROW: Donacloney v Cregagh, Larne v Dunmurry, Millpark v Templepatrick. SUNDAY: Cooke Collegians v Academy, Millpark v BISC, Templepatrick v Dungannon.