There is sure to be a little extra spice when Instonians meet Lisburn this weekend, not once but twice, at Shaw’s Bridge.

First up, the teams meet in the semi-final of the Challenge Cup and on Sunday it’s a return visit for Lisburn and what for them is, surely, a must-win Premier League clash.

After losing to Waringstown and Muckamore to end their six-match winning run at the start of the season, a third straight league defeat would leave them eight points adrift of their title rivals. And with Waringstown also expected to win their final game before the split, Lisburn would have two clubs to catch in the final five games of the season.

The extra incentive for Lisburn is that their exit from the T20 Cup as defending champions this year was decided by CIYMS beating, what was widely accepted, an under-strength Instonians side, already qualified for the semi-finals. On the night, everyone knew a CI victory would send them into the last four and knock-out Lisburn.

Shithousery isn’t usually a term associated with cricket but it was a word being used around Wallace Park that night. Exactly three weeks on, Lisburn opening batsman Ross Adair is more reflective heading into this weekend’s double header.

“Ask the Inst boys and they say they were trying to win, ask everyone else and it’s something different. At the end of the day they didn’t need to win it and they got rid of one of their main competitors at the same time so in a way I’m not against it and I can see why they did it,” says Adair.

“It’s a tough one to prove in a court of law but I didn’t mind it, I think it’s fair enough. Get rid of Lisburn their main rivals to win the competition.”

So will revenge be in the air this weekend?

“Saturday is massive,” he says, “because the club wants to right a few wrongs from last year (when they reached the Cup final but lost to Muckamore) and Sunday is a good test of character. Any team that wins the league is always the best team in the season so we have to go out and play our best cricket. They are obviously a good team but definitely beatable so looking forward to having a crack at them.”

Although Adair, who joined the club from CIYMS this year, hit 93 not out in his opening game against Templepatrick and followed up with a century against his former club in the T20 Cup, his 85 last Sunday, to ensure Lisburn’s place in the semi-finals of the Irish Cup, was his first half-century since May 8.

“Obviously, you want to perform when you join a new club. There is no one more frustrated than I am but I know I am too good for it not to turn around at some stage. Hopefully now in the next run of games I can get into  arun of form to put runs on the board or chase down totals. Backing myself and trusting my game, which I do, I know I can always get better in certain things but it’s a case of backing my ability and I know it will come.”

He is certainly going into the weekend in form after smashing 60 from just 29 balls (three fours, seven sixes) for Northern Knights on Wednesday against Munster Reds in a stunning opening partnership of 132 in 56 balls with Paul Stirling.

“Usually one batter in a partnership goes but to see both Stirlo go and then I’m going at the other end must be pretty disheartening for a bowling team to come up against,” admits Adair. “But it was nice to spend time with him in the middle, I haven’t really done that since September (for Ireland against South Africa) but watching him when he’s like that (79 not out from 34 balls) is a real treat.”

One side note from that partnership was a smashed glass door in the Bready clubhouse from a six by Adair, although initially, Ross was disowning it.

“I was scared the invoice was going to come to my house so I said Stirlo hit that six, but apologies to Bready and, probably, Cricket Ireland, they might have to pay for it.”

After top scoring against West Indies in the only T20 to survive the weather at Bready last month, in his first international innings since compiling his maiden century against South Africa in Abu Dhabi, Adair’s place for the remaining Ireland games this season, against England in September, looks assured.

“That’s what makes my club and inter-pro form so frustrating, because when you can score runs for Ireland and take on bowlers like Alzarri Joseph and then you go to inter-pro games or club games and you are not scoring runs. But I feel I’m going well for Ireland, every time I’ve been given a chance I feel like I’ve done pretty well and shown why I deserve to be at that level. Hopefully that keeps going and I can go on a run of form to take me into the England series and these low scores will be forgotten.”

Adair’s next target is to break into the Ireland ODI squad although he knows that he is likely to have a different role if/when he makes his debut in that format.

“They are looking at me lower down the order. I was watching England v West Indies where Will Jacks opens in T20 but was used at No 7 in the ODIs. He is a good example and someone for me to watch.

“I enjoy opening the batting but if I want to get into the ODI squad I’m happy to fill that role. Obviously, I need to play more 50 overs stuff but I’m more than capable of playing it. I’ll be back down the order for the Knights next month when the inter-pro Cup resumes and hopefully I can catch that run of form and bring it into the 50 over stuff as well.”