Both the champions and challengers will be missing a key player when Southampton Rangers take on PHC in the third round of the Western Counties Cup today at Southampton Oval.

Alex Dore, the early-order Southampton batsman, and all-rounder Delray Rawlins, who would have been a candidate for inclusion for PHC despite leaving them this season to join Bailey’s Bay, are both in Guyana representing the ICC Americas team in the West Indies under-19 tournament. Rawlins was on a similar assignment last year in St Kitts & Nevis and missed the match against Southampton.

PHC, hoping to offer the cup-holders a decent challenge after Warwick and Willow Cuts failed to post 100 runs in the previous rounds, will name their team from a squad of 14, with veteran Kyle Lightbourne returning to the fold to add experience along with Sheridan Ming. Bancroft Haughton and Charles Trott, who were colts last year, are set to return.

The only guest player for PHC is Fiqre Crockwell, the St David’s wicketkeeper-batsman, who will carry a heavy responsibility, coming as he is, fresh off a half-century in Cup Match.

Southampton have made one change from the match against Willow Cuts, bringing in Ian Armstrong for Dore. The match starts at 11am.

League action resumes tomorrow after a two-week break over the Cup Match period. St David’s, the league leaders, have a bye, so Southampton Rangers and Willow Cuts will look to close the gap on first place.

Southampton travel west to meet Somerset, while Willow Cuts head to the length of the Island to play Cleveland at Wellington Oval. Bailey’s Bay host St George’s in the other match at Sea Breeze Oval.

In the First Division, Devonshire Rec will entertain Bermuda Under-17 today before playing Warwick tomorrow at Southampton Oval. In the other match, promotion-seeking Western Stars host PHC at St John’s Field.

Western Counties Cup teams

Southampton Rangers: Janeiro Tucker (captain), Vernon Eve, Derrick Brangman, Kwame Tucker, Rohaan Simons, Shannon Rayner, Kevin Tucker, Ryan Belboda, Chris Pitcher, Dion Stovell, Ian Armstrong. Reserves: Dalin Richardson, Gerald Simons.

PHC (from): Khiry Furbert (captain), Kyle Lightbourne, Ellsworth Bean, Sheridan Ming, Charles Trott, Davin Dill, Donte Wellman, Kacy Greene, Jade Morrissey, Jahkari Hollis, Bancroft Haughton, Marcus Simmons, Cory Burgess, Fiqre Crockwell.