Lionel Cann is likely to reach an Eastern Counties milestone when St David’s face Cleveland County in the final at Sea Breeze Oval on Saturday.

Cann, who made his debut in 1987, will make his 50th appearance in the competition if selected by the challengers tonight.

The batsman has had 37 innings in the competition, scoring 723 runs with a top score of 59 against Flatts in 2006.

Cann, who was dropped by St George’s in Cup Match, has trained with St David’s this week. Macai Simmons, Cann’s captain at St George’s, is also expected to retain his place.

“Lionel looks fit and we don’t have very many choices,” George Cannonier, the St David’s coach, said. “Lionel still has a lot to offer and has indicated he may return to St David’s next season.

“He was supposed to play with us this season, but got injured and decided to stay with St George’s.”

St David’s will make at least three changes to last year’s team including OJ Pitcher, their former captain, who has not played since collapsing because of health issues in their first-round defeat to Bailey’s Bay last summer. Also ruled out are Shannon Rayner and Chris Foggo.

Ajuan Lamb, the league side’s wicketkeeper is not eligible, having already played for Flatts in the counties.

Captain Chris Douglas is one of the options for wicketkeeper while youngster Iyuan Smith, Ajuan’s brother, is another.

“Chris [Foggo] is out of the question; he has not been playing much cricket this season for St George’s,” Cannonier added. “I don’t think he’s up to it, so we may have to go without him.”

George O’Brien kept wicket in the One Premier Twenty20 match against Bailey’s Bay last weekend, but is not likely to be handed the job as his bowling will be required as St David’s try to reclaim the cup they lost last year. “I would much rather that “Dundee” [Douglas] kept wicket so that George can be free to bowl,” Cannonier said.

Cannonier also hopes youngster Oni Smith will stake his claim for a spot.

“He was a youngster we were grooming to play in the counties this year, but apparently he has lost interest,” Cannonier said.

St David’s claimed a thrilling one-wicket win over the champions Cleveland in 2016. Now St David’s are hoping to pull off another win and make sure the cup changes hands for a second time this summer. “There have been low scores in the past two games,” Cannonier said. “I feel it is going to be another interesting game, maybe as close and as exciting as the last one [in 2016].”