All roads will lead to Somerset Cricket Club tomorrow and Friday for the 100th edition of Cup Match as champions Somerset attempt to hold off the challenge of St. George's.

With the pitch and surrounding area prepared to perfection, dozens of stalls majestically erected around the ground and a towering net in place to snare some of the balls, which in past years have accumulated in the neighbouring Lopes' garden, Cup Match 2002 promises another intriguing battle.

And while thousands of supporters are expected to grace the spacious Somerset grounds over the two days to either join in the festive atmosphere, take a gamble on the crown and anchor or just sample some of scrumptious delicacies on hand, it's on the pitch itself where the drama will unfold as St.George's bid to turn the clock back 100 years and again rain on Somerset's parade.

However, Somerset coach and selector Winston Reid remains full of confidence, believing that his team will again get a positive result.

“Obviously a win is on the cards, but if you can't win then you certainly don't lose,” said Reid.

“Primarily we would want to go out there and try to win. Our strategy will be to go out there and try to play positive cricket.

“Once we can approach the game in a combined positive frame and mindset geared towards winning, then at the end of the day we should be able to get the desired result.”

Reid noted that he didn't foresee any serious problems for the champions as they prepared to defend their crown.

“I helped pick the team so I'm certainly confident because we only made two changes and brought in players that we felt were having a good season. And based on that I think that we should do well.

“Only some ill-advised and crazy decisions or whatever you want to call it will have to be made in order for us to lose, and I don't see us doing that.

“But again, roles have to be played and once a guy plays his role effectively then we shouldn't have any problems.

“That's the main thing. But I feel good about the team. We have a well balanced team that's adequate in both bowling and batting and along with a good wicket for cricket I don't foresee any real problems.”

Somerset have again selected what appears to be a well balanced team with Sheridan (Baldy) Ming (colt) and Dennis Pilgrim (colt) the only changes from last year's team that piled on the runs at Wellington Oval.

Again the champions have depth in batting with talented acts such as Curtis Jackson, Kwame Tucker, Dexter Basden, Ming or even skipper Albert Steede all able to feature at the top of the order.

Somerset's middle order is also heavily stacked with the likes of Janeiro Tucker, Corey Hill, Dennis Pilgrim, Wendell White, Hasan Durham and Dwayne (Sluggo) Leverock all very capable of keeping the ball-boys on the boundary busy.

Last year Janeiro Tucker put on a brutal display of batting as he hit 186 to surpass Lloyd James' 39-year record for the highest individual score.

And this year he seeks to become the first player to score three Cup Match centuries.

White, Hill and Pilgrim should carry the bulk of Somerset's bowling and, if required, Janeiro Tucker can also be relied on to fill in while both Durham and Leverock will be given the spin duties.

Kwame Tucker again takes on the wicketkeeping duties while Sammy Robinson and Shane Hollis are Somerset's reserves.

St.George's head west determined to take back what they lost in 2000 - the cherished Cup Match trophy.

And on this, the 100th anniversary of the first match, Somerset will have to be wary of the fact that history does have a funny way of repeating itself. It was St.George's who first had the honour of inscribing their name on the cup in 1902.

“We are going all out for the win and nothing short of it!” exclaimed St.George's' president Neil Paynter.

“We don't have the trophy and so there's nothing to lose, so we will definitely be going all out for a win.

“I must say that I am very pleased with the team that the selectors picked. I also think that it is a very balanced team and a team that can produce the goods.”

Asked whether the challengers would be relying heavily on the spin bowling of young colt Travis Smith, Paynter said he wouldn't single out any one of his players as being more important than another.

“That's not me, I'm a team oriented person,” he insisted.

While it's highly probable that Somerset will provide a batsmen's wicket, Paynter said no one would really know just how the wicket would play until tomorrow dawns.

“The wicket will play the way it will play and on the day our skipper will decide whether to use his spinners or seamers to produce the goods.

“I also hope that the supporters will come out for both teams and make it a momentous occasion.”

Having made four changes from last year, St. George's are acutely aware that they will have to bowl Somerset out twice in order to take the trophy back east.

In addition to pace bowlers Herbie Bascome and Gregg Foggo, veteran Gary Brangman returns to lend both consistency and experience to their attack, while Lionel Cann can also wreak havoc with the ball whenever he's called upon.

Colts Peter Philpott and Travis Smith, meanwhile, could both pose a threat with their offering of spin.

In Glenn Blakeney, St. George's perhaps possess the classic's most explosive batsman. Last year Blakeney scored his maiden century (104) and if St.George's are looking for quick runs, then the stylish left-hander is certainly their guy.

Talented youngster OJ Pitcher also returns to the line-up where he is expected to produce runs along with veteran skipper Marshall, and reliable pair Clay Smith and Mark Ray, with Bascome, Foggo, Brangman, Philpott, Cann and Travis Smith further boosting an already explosive batting line-up.

Youngsters Ankoma Cannonier and Fred Hall Jr have been chosen as reserves.

Cup Match begins both days at 10 a.m. at Somerset Cricket Club who are also celebrating their 100th year in existence.