Leinster Lightning player/coach Trent Johnston has withdrawn from their squad to play North West Warriors at Malahide on Saturday.

Johnston has been troubled by his right achilles and while a MRI scan thankfully showed no tear, there were signs of moderate tendonosis. The Cricket Ireland medical team have advised rest and a course of anti-inflammatories.

Ireland will of course want Johnston fully fit for their crucial World Cup qualifiers in Amsterdam against The Netherlands in July and will be adopting a safety first approach for these games.

One win should be enough for Ireland to guarantee their place on the plane to Australia and New Zealand in 2015 - such is the superior nature of their nett run-rate.

Johnston has been replaced in the squad by the in-form Railway Union all-rounder Pat Collins, who has two centuries and a seven wicket haul to his name this season.