WITH less than two months to the start of the season, all the Leinster clubs have started nets with gusto. Players have turned up to find a fitter, more tanned team-mate has arrived too, and usually speaking with one of those jarring accents that marks a man out as Soodafrikin or Strine.

Several of the pros are returning, notably Andrè Botha for his second season with North County and his ninth in all in Dublin. Gerry Byrne's recent contribution to this site shows that Ireland's latest overseas pro is top of the all-time Leinster averages, with a remarkable 51.47 from the 6,434 runs in 164 games.

The other gold standard pro of recent seasons, former New South Wales player Trent Johnston, is back again - but at his fourth Dublin club. With Johnston and Jeremy Bray at the top of the order, Phoenix could well prove the team to beat, or at least bowl out.

CYM have again returned to South Africa, signing Border all-rounder Warren Hinkel, who played once for his state this winter, making 7 against Gauteng in a day-night match. In the lesser UCB Bowl competition he opened the batting for Border - against Gauteng - and made 66 before being dismissed by ex-Pembroke pro Walter Masimula. According to a club source he also took 6-60 against a touring Zimbabwe A team that contained eight test players so it seems like CY have picked a good one. Late News: Hinkel made his first-class debut today in the Border v Boland match.

Trinity are also delighted with their very first overseas player - former Merrion batsman Chris Torrisi. New captain Jonny Harte has had to plan with a squad that lost eight leading players since last year, including Ed Joyce, Conor Hoey and Toby Cohen, so the club have opted to "go pro". Torrisi will play for the club until their competitive season finishes in mid-June and will then return to Anglesea Road as a non-playing coach.

Merrion have signed Tasmanian quickie, Sean Phlegler (although the club admit this is an approximate spelling and advise coughing as you pronounce it). At the first nets in St Columba's the big, brash, blond speedster is reputed to have clocked "90mph plus".

Old Belvedere has re-signed Hendrik de Vos, the former North West and Western Transvaal batsman. De Vos, now 32, had a distinguished first-class career in South Africa (2000 runs and two centuries in 47 matches) which only ended last winter.

Pembroke have decided to do without a pro, as, according to new captain Trevor Dagg, they have opted to "get their books back in order". The club have several exciting young players coming through and proven class in O'Rourke, Davy and the Byrnes.