There are not many clubs who can lose players of the quality of Faiz Fazal, Ryan Macbeth, Josh Manley and Matthew Humphreys and play as if nothing has happened, but that is exactly what Lisburn have done so far.

The new-look Wallace Park side are top of the Premier League, in the semi-finals of the NCU T20 Cup and the quarter-finals  of the Irish Cup, but things are about to get a lot more interesting – and testing.

Saturday’s Premier League game against North Down at The Green is followed next day by the big Challenge Cup tie of the second round, at home to Waringstown, who they will then host in the League two weeks later and in between the little matter of a home Irish Cup tie against hot favourites Pembroke.

Captain Neil Whitworth has been leading from the front with over 500 runs already at an average of 96 but also playing a huge role, on and off the field is Ireland international Nigel Jones who, without any publicity, has taken over Uel Graham’s position as 1st XI coach.

“Yes, I am player/coach,” Jones admits, “just making sure we have structure, pointing ourselves in the right direction for the next couple of seasons around recruitment and supporting Neil as much as I can.

“We probably underachieved last year (a third place finish, 20 points behind the champions), but after losing players we have kept things simple, backed the players, and introduced a few youngsters like Callum Logue, Ethan Booth and Harry Walker who played for us last weekend.

“Between Ross Adair, Ben Calitz, Neil, the pro, James Hunter and Davy Miller there is a nice blend of youth and experience and some talent and threat. We take one game at a time, enjoy ourselves and understand our limitations and our strengths and if we do all that we are going to be on the right side of results.”

It has certainly worked so far with only one defeat in their first 10 games – a T20 match against Instonians – although the next two weeks will give a better indication of what they can achieve this season.

Jones admits it is a huge fortnight ahead.

“They are two of the strongest clubs on the island.  We know what’s coming with Waringstown, we know them very well,  I, personally, know Pembroke very well in terms of what they offer and who they have got but we have to back ourselves. In club cricket you just need one or two guys to have a day out, get a bit of luck and everybody is beatable.”

The good news is that Ross Adair is expected to be available despite his commitments with Northern Knights over the next two midweeks – “It’s important we can keep him”, says Jones, who is also delighted at the impact made by new professional, South African Jon Hinrichsen.

"Jon has fitted in a like a dream, a big competitor who always wants to run in and show what he can do. He’s like any professional who comes over as a bowler, it takes  one or two weeks to get your lengths right, running in on soft outfields, but he has adjusted really well.

“He has good skills, is a threat up top but also has the ability to come back in those middle overs, to take the big wicket or break that partnership – he has done that a couple of times already - and then the ability to close out. So a three-phase bowler and has given other guys a bit of confidence. He deserved his six-for against North Down the other week.”

The other new face at Wallace Park is Ben Walsh, a slow bowler who realised he wouldn’t get the overs he wanted at Instonians, and it has already proved the perfect move.

“Ben’s been a cracking addition,” says Jones. “It’s great to give him anopportunity,  we weren’t sure how many games he would get, but it became pretty clear that ‘Ben you will have the chance to play every game, you will get a good number of overs and bowl at big times’ and already all that has happened.

“He has taken it like a duck to water and it feels like he has been here a couple of seasons.  He knows his role and been made to feel welcome. The rest is up to him and we’re really pleased with him and he will continue to make that impact.”

The star of the season for Lisburn so far, however, has been Whitworth, now in is fifth season with the club and described by Jones as a “quality cricketer”.

“He knows his game well, his tempo and temperament are really good. He doesn’t get flustered, plays pace well and doesn’t get bogged down against spin.  The rest of us can play around him; Ross is free to play his game, Calitz does his thing, I can play the situation and there’s no pressure on Hunter and Miller because Neil has  the ability to bat through an innings and go through the gears And all that on top of what he offers with the ball and his captaincy is maturing.

“He is very open to advice, willing to take it on, but he still takes the decisions and can make the big calls when he needs to.”

On Saturday, Whitworth will lead the side back to Comber where they have already won convincingly this season in the Irish Cup and they now know the teams will meet again in the T20 Cup semi-finals next month.

“We just have to make sure we treat the game from a clean slate,” concludes Jones. “It’s a big weekend but our mindset is to play  the game in front of us. We then reset and go again. We have to stay relaxed and not get too invested in what is ahead because that invariably puts pressure on yourself. We will take Saturday, get that done and then put our best foot forward on Sunday and hopefully get on the right side of things.”