chance to take in a Central Counties clash, the opening round of the Knockout Cup and a Cup Match trial over the next three days.

Western Stars will today be seeking to extend their winning streak in the Central Counties Cup to 10 matches -- dating back to the second round of the 1992 season when they dethroned then champions Nationals.

Their opponents will be Social Club whose bowlers were hammered by the Stars opening pair of Treadwell Gibbons and Albert Steede last weekend in a first wicket stand worth a massive 286.

Social Club, who won the toss and asked their opponents to bat, are determined that will not happen again, but Stars must still be firm favourites in the 50 overs match which begins at 11 a.m. at St. John's Field.

Though Social Club will think twice about asking Stars to bat first if they win the toss again, they might also be somewhat reluctant to bat first themselves.

In the last four years, while batting first, Social Club have failed to post 100, scoring 86 and 73 against Stars in the last two years, 95 against then champions Nationals in 1992 and 81 against Police in '91. In '90 they managed just 89 while batting second against Police.

Stars will take on Nationals, their first round Central Counties victims, in the opening round of the Knockout on Sunday. This is the pick of the matches, as most of the top teams have avoided each other. Stars are the new leaders of the Premier Division while Nationals are in third place.

Defending champions Bailey's Bay, who beat Willow Cuts in the final, are at home to Devonshire Rec. in a match that would normally have got top billing.

But Rec. have fallen a notch or two and are no longer the force they used to be.

Even without the likes of Noel Gibbons, Charlie Marshall, Terry Burgess and Glenn Smith, Bay should be too strong for their opponents who will rely heavily on Donald Norford and Anthony Amory in the batting.

Willow Cuts will have to watch a revived PHC side very closely in their match at White Hill. PHC beat both St. David's and Somerset last weekend and will be full of confidence for their clash with the west enders.

Somerset make the long trek to Wellington Oval to take on St. George's while other matches see Police at home to Social Club, Flatts entertaining Southampton Rangers at Devonshire Rec., St. David's hosting Cleveland in an all-Eastern Counties clash and Warwick meeting fellow Western Counties team Somerset Bridge at Southampton Oval.

All matches are 50 overs per side starting at noon, with the team batting first having their innings end at 3.40 at the tea break and the team batting second also being allowed to bat for three hours and 40 minutes, starting at 4.00.

One match is also scheduled for Monday, a Cup Match trial between St. George's and Cleveland, at Wellington Oval. The 50-over game will begin at 12 noon.

ALBERT STEEDE -- hammered 130 in an opening stand of 286 against Social Club last Sunday.