With the exception of the chosen (relatively) few playing for their respective provincial unions and those involved in a few Leinster Senior League matches (sponsored by Whitney Moore and Keler), most senior club cricketers can take a breather this weekend.

The focus instead will be on the Interprovincial Championship, likely to be the last of its kind for at least one season, with matches at Rathmines and Sydney Parade tomorrow and at Castle Avenue and Phoenix on Sunday.

A series of North versus South matches instead of the interprovincials in order to prepare for the ICC World Cup qualifying tournament in Toronto during July is likely next summer. That certainly should make for competitive contests and help those who eventually make the national squad in the build-up to Canada, even if the initiative is unlikely to impress the Munster Cricket Union.

But in the meantime, there is considerable incentive for Angus Dunlop and his Leinster team to try to repeat their cleansweep success of last season. They have already taken an initial step in that direction back in May, when they defeated Munster by eight wickets at College Park.

Only Simon Milton is missing from the Leinster team which played that day, while John Davy and Niall O'Brien have been included in the present 14-man squad. O'Brien, a son of the legendary "Ginger", is uncapped, but that is likely to be rectified over the weekend, when the Ireland Under-19 wicket-keeper may take over behind the stumps.

Meanwhile, Derek Heasley is out of the NCU squad because of work commitments. But the panel is experienced. It is captained by Kyle McCallan and includes other talented players like Neil Carson, Adrian McCoubrey, Peter Shields and Ryan Haire.

North West, led by Peter Gillespie, who have already defeated the NCU, will be out to topple Munster at Sydney Parade in order to set up a decider against Leinster at Castle Avenue on Sunday. Notable absentees are the Ireland paceman Gordon Cooke and his brother David, who are not available, while Decker Curry is on holidays.

Three of Ireland's under-age internationals, all from the Donemana club, have been named in the side - Jordan McGonagle and Richard Kee (both Under 19) and Johnny Thompson (Under 17).

The second semi-final of the Leinster Women's Senior Cup, between Malahide and Merrion, is at Malahide (9,00 a.m.) tomorrow. And at the same venue on Monday, the Irish Women's Cricket Union Development X1 takes on Holland Under 21 in a one-day international.