The Meeting of last year's beaten finalists The Hills, and Malahide, a club steeped in achievement in cup competitions, at Milverton today heads an impressive list of matches in the opening round of the Conqueror Leinster Senior Cup.

Malahide are showing some consistency this season and field their usual side. The home side, with the exception of Joseph Clinton, are also at full strength so the scene is set for a real battle between two durable sides.

YMCA include a new recruit in 24-year-old Australian Brendan Hill against North County at Claremont Road, while down the road at Park Avenue, Railway Union and Leinster are in opposition.

Leinster will be without Ray McDonnell, who is away, and schoolboy Robert O'Connor, who sustained an injury in helping his side CUS reach the Schools' final in mid-week. Railway will be looking to remarkable campaigner Brendan O'Brien to provide the incentive.

Merrion will have new signings Brendan Hughes, a wicket-keeper/ batsman from Natal, and Welsh-born middle-order bat Adam Thomas in action against Dublin University at Anglesea Road. CYM, after the embarrassing annihilation at the hands of Limavady's Decker Curry, face a struggle to survive against in-form Clontarf at Castle Avenue.

Phoenix will be missing skipper Alf Masood (injured), David Pigot and Mark Barriscale when they face Carlisle at Kimmage. The restructured Interprovincial competition is launched tomorrow with the North entertaining the South at Cliftonville CC. With such batting talent on display a high-scoring game seems likely.