Carlisle Cricket Club face two big games this weekend, which could point the way to some much-sought after silverware.

The city side travel to Furness tomorrow in Cumbria Cricket League’s Premier Division Match of the Day, holding a six-point lead over their hosts.

Then, 24 hours later, they head to west Cumbria to take on Cleator in the long-delayed County Cup semi-final with the winners facing Cockermouth in the final.

Carlisle skipper Marc Brown said: “They don’t come any bigger than these two games for us, especially the league game at Furness.

"We are all looking forward to the game because it’s going to be a test. We have rolled over a few teams this year but this will be a lot harder.

"However, we are travelling at full strength and have been playing with a lot of confidence.”

Furness will be without classy opening batsman Nathan Waterston, who will be in FA Cup action for Workington Reds at Newcastle Benfield.

The club pro, Sachith Pathirana, who has taken 61 wickets for them this season, has gone back home and they will be using a substitute professional tomorrow.

The clubs should have met in back-to-back matches at Edenside earlier in the season but the league game was washed out. On the Sunday, however, Carlisle won a tense low-scoring quarter-final in the County Cup.

Cleator now stand between Carlisle and a place in the final, and are a side that Brown and his team hold a lot of respect for.

“They are capable of beating anyone on their day, so it’s going to be another tough game. We are having to make a change because our wicket-keeper Craig Manchester is unavailable. Opener Jonathan Davidson will keep wicket and we will bring in a bowler but we still haven’t decided on that one yet,” said Brown.

Carlisle were quick-fire winners against Whitehaven last Saturday, skittling the west Cumbrians for 33 with professional Mike Slack taking 7-15. Davidson and Brown knocked off the runs in seven overs.

Cockermouth need to beat Dalton tomorrow and hope that Furness beat leaders Carlisle.

Time is running out for the champions and they can’t afford to stay 22 points behind the top team with just three games left to play.

It would be marginally better for the Sandair side if Furness won and Cockermouth would be 16 points in arrears.

The last time Cockermouth played Dalton, it was an absolute thriller in the County Cup semi-final. Seemingly beaten, Cockermouth somehow scrambled a one-wicket win off the last ball of the game.

Wigton had one of their best results of the season when they won a low-scoring game at Keswick by four wickets, after Theo Manihera hit a match-winning 41 not out off as many balls.

Keswick had been bowled out for 89 with Chris Hodgson taking 5-25 and skipper Nico Watt chipping in with 4-31.

Wigton will expect to follow up tomorrow when they entertain bottom side, Egremont, who are still looking for that elusive first win of the season, while Keswick aim to bounce back at Whitehaven who are still smarting from being skittled for 33 by Carlisle.

Cleator warm up for their semi-final with a league game at Lindal.