Willow Cuts will receive the first shot at stripping Western Counties champions Southampton Rangers of their title when the two sides meet in the first round of this year's competition on July 5 at a venue yet to be determined.

Rangers thrashed Cuts by a massive 148 runs in last year's final at Southampton Oval to put an end to a five-year Western Counties drought.

But with more experience under their belts, Cuts stalwart Dexter Basden believes his team have the necessary weapons in their arsenal to gun down the champions when this summer's campaign gets underway.

"The youngsters that played last year now have some experience and so the next time around we should be able to do a lot better than we did last time," the ex-Somerset Cup Match skipper said.

"We have a good balance of players at Willow Cuts. We have two senior players and a good crop of youngsters who are all doing pretty good.

"These young guys have really come on good this season and I think we can take Rangers in the first round."

Basden was referring to the likes of promising seamer Kevon Fubler, Under-19 World Cup all-rounder Deunte Darrell and fast bowler Mackie Smith, who recently transferred from neighbouring Somerset Bridge.

Cuts' side also contains explosive batsmen Bergon Spencer, Sheroy Fubler and Ryan Sheppard who slammed the season's first century (100) against Bridge in a Twenty20 contest at Somerset Cricket Club earlier this month.

Rangers lost a few key players such as quickie Traddie Simpson, spin king Dwayne Leverock and opening bat Curtis Jackson who cracked an unbeaten ton (102) against Cuts in last year's final.

Still, Rangers player/coach Janeiro Tucker is confident the champions can defend their title against Cuts come early July.

"It really doesn't make a difference who we play," he said. "We will just have take things as they come and although we have a new team we are confident.

"Having lost a few players, everyone is calling us the whipping boys - and that's all good. I think my team is all right and against Cuts we will just have to execute on the day and let the chips fall where they may."

Warwick, meanwhile, will face the eventual winners of the Rangers/Cuts clash in the second round on July 12, with PHC having been drawn in the third round (August 9) and Bridge in the final (August 23).

It is understood that Western Counties Cricket Association (WCCA) officials are currently exploring the option of having this summer's 50-overs cup competition staged at White Hill Field.

WCCA are also expected to announce details of the Kenneth (Mickey) Thompson Memorial Sevens Tournament that has been pushed back this summer.

Rangers are also the defending Thompson Memorial champions.

Meanwhile, Eastern Counties champions St.David's will open the defence of their title against arch rivals Bailey's Bay on July 19, with the eventual winners taking on Flatts in the second round on August 16.

Cleveland County, shock winners over St.David's over the weekend, were drawn in the August 30 final.

This year could see the popular mid-summer series moved from Sea Breeze Oval to Lords as work is currently in progress to upgrade the Oval.