We should perhaps be thankful it's taken a little longer to reach that stage in 2008, but after a mostly wet last fortnight and the likelihood of an inclement weekend, a fixture pile-up is looming in the NCU.

Bangor and Lisburn, likely to be two of the mid-table teams in the Ulster Bank Premier League, are scheduled to meet at Upritchard Park but if there is play, the most important game of the day will undoubtedly be at Ballymena's Eaton Park where Derriaghy play homeless Cliftonville.

This is Cliftonville's 'home' match but with cricket seemingly no longer welcome at their former Greenisland ground, Brian Anderson's men are struggling to stay afloat in their first season back in the top flight.

Cliftonville have won just once in their first six league matches while their opponents, Andrew Kenny's Derriaghy, have a solitary success from five games.

Along with CIYMS, who have no fixture because of Waringstown's Irish Cup commitments, the two clubs are locked at the bottom on four points.

In Section Two, Ballymena, with eight straight victories behind them, should make it nine in a row at Holywood but the most intriguing fixture could be at Ballygomartin Road where Woodvale, firmly in the promotion hunt, host struggling Downpatrick.

After relegation from the top flight last season, Downpatrick are immersed in another struggle at the bottom of the table.