St. George's, runners-up to Bailey's Bay in the league last season, will be hardest hit by this weekend's short tour of Florida by a BCBC Select which coincides with the start of the new season.

St. George's face a tough home match against one of the pre-season title favourites, Western Stars.

The match, however, usually one of the most keenly contested matches of the season, will probably be a one-sided affair in Stars' favour as the east enders will be missing three top players.

Captain Graham Fox, wicketkeeper Dean Minors and top batsman Clay Smith are all due to fly out to Fort Lauderdale today with a BCBC team that will play two matches, the first -- a day-night match -- against the USA Select on Good Friday. The second match will take place on Sunday against a Florida Cricket Association Select.

Stars, too, will be without two players, new signing Albert Steede who will captain the touring team and allrounder Hasan Durham, but they have plenty of depth to their squad to compensate.

St. George's will also be missing strike bowler Kenny Phillip who is not expected to play much this season because of work commitments.

In the absence of Fox, vice captain Ricky Hodsoll will lead the team. New signing Phillip Burgess, from Hamilton Parish, is expected to be included in the St. George's team this weekend.

Smith and Minors will play just one local match before heading back to England in two weeks time for second stints in the Northumberland County Cricket League. Smith will return to Benwell as an amateur and will be accompanied by Bailey's Bay batsman Glenn Smith while Minors will be the pro this season at Tynedale. St. George's bowler Gregg Foggo will accompany him.

And while Smith plans to return to play in Cup Match, Minors' obligations at Tynedale as professional may not allow him time off to play in the summer classic.

A full slate of matches are scheduled for Sunday, though the schedule has been revised because of the withdrawal of Hamilton Parish.

Somerset Bridge have confirmed their participation to the BCBC after previously looking doubtful because of a lack of interest shown by their players.

Teams have been going through their final paces this week in the buildup to the new season, with some new players fitting into new environments.

League champions Bailey's Bay will obviously be the team to beat though they will not be at full strength from the outset. Roger Trott has returned to the fold but they will be without both Glenn Smith and ace bowler Clarkie Trott, last season's MVP, for their opening match since both will be in Florida.

Lionel Cann is the new captain of St. David's, recently being appointed to replace Herbie Bascome while Sea Pitcher is his vice captain. However, Cann leaves today with the BCBC team and will miss his team's match against Police.

The two players St. David's definitely did lose are Allen Richardson and James Pace and that, alongwith the signings of Perry Maybury from Somerset and Alfred Carter from Somerset Bridge, should give PHC reason for optimism.

Richardson is the club's player-coach but Maybury and Pace are expected to miss the start of the season.

St. David's are putting the emphasis this year on youth, combined with some experienced players. "The nucleus of the players are still there,'' said club president Eddie Lamb, who also intends to play again this season. "We're placing more emphasis on the youngsters from our youth programme.

"We have a lot of youngsters who have graduated from the junior county cup and there are some who have already featured in the senior side like Sammy Robinson. Our programme shouldn't be affected by the transfer market.'' One of the promising youngsters returning to St. David's is allrounder Desmond Crockwell who was with Bailey's Bay. He is eligible to play for both St.

David's and Bay in the Eastern Counties.

Another club that should enjoy a change of fortune this season is Nationals who have succeeded in picking up former players John and Mark Ray, Bruce Perinchief and Jason Lewis -- though John Ray and Lewis will miss the first part of the season because of injuries. Also joining Nationals are Brandon Woolridge from Flatts and Hamilton Parish pair Dennis Trott and Quinn Outerbridge while another new player is Irishman Alan Corcoran, a left arm swing bowler and left hand bat.

"I feel the most important thing this year is to continue to develop the team spirit and harmony while incorporating the new players in a more experienced squad,'' said captain Neil Speight.

Weekend schedule: St. George's v Western Stars, Police v St. David's, Cleveland v Somerset, Devonshire v Flatts, Willow Cuts v Bailey's Bay, Southampton v PHC, Social Club v Nationals, Somerset Bridge v Warwick.

GRAHAM FOX -- Travelling to Florida for tour matches.