The Comber side have been quickly into their stride, winning all three of their league games and tomorrow, for the first time since they won the ClubTurf Ulster Cup in 2002, they will be able to field a full strength team in the competition.

The loss of David Kennedy, back to his hometown club Ballymena, will not be felt in the Ulster Cup because the games are all played on a Sunday and Kennedy has never wavered in his beliefs and played only six days a week.

It does mean that North Down, who also won the cup in 2006 and lost in the final to Instonians last year, will not have to change their team from one day to the next and it means the competition can be elevated on the list of priorities in Comber.

"We have always enjoyed the competition but without David in the team we knew we weren't at full strength so the other competitions had a higher priority.

"But this year we have no excuses and we have an interesting first match against Killymallaght.

"North Down have certainly never played them in my time," says the one-club 28 year-old.

"It could be bit of trial and error but they had a good result against Glendermott last weekend and that's where Marty (Dalzell) and Neil (Russell, both former team-mates at The Green) are now."

Kennedy meanwhile missed out on a return to North Down next Saturday when Ballymena lost to Downpatrick in the first round of the TCH Challenge Cup. The winners travel to Comber for the second round game and the near-miss is not lost on Haire.

"It would have been nice for David and us, if he had got through but Downpatrick will be competitive.

"They have a few young players and will be trying hard.

" But I'm looking forward to it and it will be nice to be at home again (where they played every match last year before the final, at Downpatrick).

Away from North Down, Haire is kept busy on a daily basis as the Northern Ireland Cricket Association's Cricket Development Manager, based in the House of Sport in Belfast, and his coaching talents took him the West Indies last month with the Ireland Under 15 side which finished fifth in a mini World Cup, hence his late start to the season.

Although based in Belfast, Haire is ensuring he is seen in the North West and he is excited by the new ground and practice facilities at Bready which could open as early as July.

"It's exciting to have a such a cricket facility in the North West and will be a great help to Brian Allen, our development officer in the area.

"And it should be an international venue by 2010," added Haire.