Southampton Rangers will defend the Champion of Champions title without several key players.

Janeiro Tucker, the Rangers captain, revealed on the eve of today’s semi-final clash with Bailey’s Bay at St John’s Field that his team have been depleted as a result of work and school commitments, as well as ineligibility.

Fast bowler Kevin Tucker and batsman Kwame Tucker have been ruled out through work commitments, while another batsman, Gerald Simons, is doubtful.

Alex Dore, the opening batsman, is away in school, while Hasan Durham, Ian Armstrong, Dean Stephens and Lamont Brangman are ineligible because of the Western Counties rules.

“We are in the same boat as Bay and probably got just about 11 players ourselves,” Tucker said. “But this is not an excuse, as we are still going to come out and do what we have to do.

“We are the defending champions and want to win, so we are going to show up and put our best foot forward.”

Rangers have included Dion Stovell and Allan Douglas Jr in their team as guest players, two players they could rely heavily on to compensate for the loss of other team members.

Stovell confirmed this week that he plans to rejoin Rangers from St David’s next season.

He led Rangers to Champion of Champions glory last year, smashing 137 against his league club, St David’s, in the final at Southampton Oval.

Rangers and Bay, whose team includes former Rangers players Malachi Jones and Derrick Brangman, split the league series between them this season.

“They showed up on one day and we showed up on one day, and we both got a result, so it’s a matter of who shows up on the day to play cricket,” Tucker said.

All-rounder Jones is potentially making his final appearance for Bay, having been linked with a return to Rangers next season.

“Malachi and I are pretty tight,” Rodney Trott, the Bay captain, said. “He’s had a talk with me and I think he is moving on.

“I have heard he could go to Rangers, but have heard other things, too. That’s his decision.”

Bay seam bowler Kyle Hodsoll is doubtful because of work commitments and middle-order batsman Dennico Hollis may also be missing today with Rangers.

The winners will meet Western Stars in the final tomorrow, with both matches starting at 10am at St John’s Field.