Except for one change forced on them by the unavailability of Kamau Leverock, and maybe one other by choice, Somerset’s team selection tonight should be a relatively straightforward process ... short and to the point.

As cup holders they do not need to make many changes and could realistically have fielded the same team for three straight years. One or two changes are the most Somerset can expect to make, such is the strength of their young squad. The onus, instead, will be on the challengers from the east to take the gambles — selection and otherwise — if they are to wrestle the cup back from Somerset.

Last year St George’s brought in four colts, Zeko Burgess, Lateef Trott, Christian Burgess and Onias Bascome, opting to introduce new faces after a heavy defeat the year before at Somerset Cricket Club. It did not quite work out as rain saved them from likely defeat, with St George’s 137 for five in their second innings, still 42 runs behind Somerset’s first-innings total of 370.

“I don’t think they did anything spectacular by avoiding a defeat, the weather saved them from defeat,” said Jeff Richardson, the Somerset coach after the 2013 match.

Now St George’s could go back to one or two of those players dropped, with St David’s trio Fiqre Crockwell, Delyone Borden and George O’Brien leading the push for inclusion, along with teenager Delray Rawlins, who has a good chance of making his debut this year. His slow left-arm would give the spin attack variety.

All four of last year’s colts for St George’s need good performances to cement their spots as the more experienced Crockwell, Borden, O’Brien and Jason Anderson push for recalls.

Anderson did not do his chances any harm last weekend, with his man-of-the-match performance helping to Cleveland end a 33-year wait to win an Eastern Counties match. The type of batting that he produced at the top of the innings in scoring 76 is what may be required by St George’s. He made what is regarded as the Island’s most potent bowling attack look very ordinary, scoring his runs with relative ease and authority, before giving his wicket away when he gave Borden the charge.

Anderson will play as wicketkeeper in the President’s XI while incumbent Christian Burgess will handle the glove duties for the Vice-President’s XI. Also in the President’s team are Borden, Crockwell, Rawlins and Damali Bell, while the Vice-President’s team, captained by OJ Pitcher contains Dennis Musson, Cleveland’s bowling hero in the Eastern Counties, and last year’s four colts.

Somerset will likely have two spots, at most, to fill. Club player Jordan DeSilva could have the inside track, as he adds some variety to the seam attack as a left-hander and is also quite useful with the bat in the lower middle order. Deunte Darrell, who made his debut in 2009, is another option, although Darrell for Leverock would weaken the bowling despite providing more depth to the batting.

Dion Stovell was not included in the final trial and there is also no place either Shaquille Jones, who left Somerset to join Willow Cuts this season. Jones, 19, was captain of the Colts Cup Match team last year, but he has not been included in that team, either, with Kwasi James named as captain for tomorrow’s match against St George’s at Somerset Cricket Club starting at 11am.