Southampton Rangers and Bailey’s Bay will put their issues with their respective counties behind them when they meet in a top-of-the-table Logic Premier Division clash at Southampton Oval on Sunday.

Rangers were stripped of the Western Counties title after refusing to take the field against a Willow Cuts side they believe had selected two guest players not listed on the teamsheet, and a third who was ineligible.

Bay have had their own well-documented problems in the Eastern Counties where they were declared the winners after a highly controversial draw with holders Cleveland last month, only to see the Eastern Counties Cricket Association uphold Cleveland’s appeal against the decision.

Bay have subsequently confirmed that they have withdrawn from the competition indefinitely.

This week the team were back in training, putting all that behind them and trying to prepare to face unbeaten Rangers who beat them in their first meeting at Sea Breeze Oval in June.

“The spirit hasn’t changed, that’s something that happened and is out of our hands,” said coach Irving Romaine on the counties ruling. “It has nothing to do with the players, we played hard during Eastern Counties and now we’re moving on.

“We’ll have a chat with the boys tonight to see how they’re feeling. The fans are doing their own thing and taking a stand against it but we, as a team, are just concentrating on our cricket right now. Things are happening, obviously, that are out of our control so the most we can do is play our cricket and hopefully our fans will follow and support us.

“Everybody came training and one thing about Bay is we enjoy each other’s company, it was our manager Patches’s [Cal Dill] birthday and we had a good time.”

Bay will be missing a couple of key players for Sunday with Terryn Fray and wicketkeeper Sinclair Smith out while experienced batsman Stephen Outerbridge is doubtful after taking a knock during Cup Match that prevented him from fielding for Somerset on the second day.

“Terryn will be abroad and so will Sinclair Smith, while Stephen is struggling right now with an injury in the hip area,” Romaine said. “We have guys ready to play, Azende [Furbert] will probably take over the wicketkeeping gloves while we have other players to fill in.”

Rangers have a perfect record from six league matches while Bay had suffered just one loss, the seven-wicket defeat to Rangers at home after Janeiro Tucker and Dion Stovell shared in a vital third-wicket stand of 141.

Rangers have 79 points while Bay are on 65 in what is developing into a two-team title race. St David’s sit well off the pace in third place on 33 points.

St David’s make the short trip to Wellington Oval to meet their Eastern Counties rivals Cleveland who are just three points behind them.

In the other match, Willow Cuts meet neighbours Somerset in a battle to avoid relegation. Last-placed Flatts have a bye.

Devonshire Recreation Club and Western Stars will continue their push for the automatic promotion spot when Stars host bottom team Somerset Bridge at St John’s Field and Devonshire Rec entertain St George’s.

Devonshire Rec lead the First Division by three points over Stars, by virtue of bonus points as Stars have a perfect record of seven wins.

PHC play Warwick in the other match at White Hill Field.

In the Western Counties third round on Saturday, new champions Willow Cuts play Somerset Bridge.