to take the field with St. David's against Bailey's Bay for the final of the Eastern Counties today at Lord's.

The St. George's opening batsman was included in the St. David's team earlier this week as they made two changes from the team which swept past Cleveland by six wickets in the last round. And though Smith saw a specialist yesterday for his latest of injuries -- a lower back strain -- the decision of whether he plays will not be made until this morning.

"I'll just wait until the last minute and see if it feels good enough to play,'' said Smith, who scored 32 in the win over Cleveland in the last round.

"I have to be honest with them (St. David's) and if it's not ready I won't play.'' Smith strained a muscle in the lower portion of his back while training at an English hotel during a recent trip there. He said that the injury had responded well to massage therapy performed by Robert Lightbourne yesterday, but was unsure if it would be up to the demands of a match.

For what is expected to be their toughest challenge in the three-match series, the selectors have opted to bring veterans Oliver and Ken Pitcher back in the lineup for youngster Sam Robinson and veteran George Cannonier.

That effectively makes the batting stronger with a batsman and bowler coming in for two bowlers. If Smith does not play the batting will at least be as strong as it was for the Cleveland match, with Oliver Pitcher adding experience to the early or middle order.

Youth squad member Robinson, made his counties debut in the last round, and will keep his place in the team if Smith pulls out.

The team is as follows: James Pace (captain), Herbie Bascome (vice captain), Lionel Cann, Allen Richardson, Wendell Smith, Albert Steede, Anthony Foggo, Oliver Pitcher, Shea Pitcher, Reginald Pitcher Ken Pither. Reserves: Sam Robinson, Mike Kelly and Rudy Smith.

Skipper James Pace remains confident despite the changes to a winning team as he looks to complete his first counties series as captain by extending the St.

David's unbeaten run to 18 matches as champions stretching back to 1988.

He says his team remains a strong one and is capable of defending the trophy.

"I am never one to take anything for granted, but I really do feel that we will be up to the task going against this Bailey's Bay side,'' said Pace.

St. David's have been spearheaded by fine batting in the two previous rounds and, although they were held to a draw by Flatts, they did follow that game up with a decisive victory over Cleveland.

Pace once again pointed to the St. David's batting depth, pointing out that the onus will be on the Bailey's Bay bowlers to dismiss St. David's in order to win the cup.

The move by the challengers to include batsman Andre Manders was one that the St. David's skipper viewed with great respect, but he reckoned that it was not primarily a move designed to strengthen their batting.

"They probably brought him in as a spinner-batsman, but the move isn't going to help them much...at least not with the wicket we have down here which is an excellent one. We are a team packed with batsmen, right down to number nine,'' he noted.

Without a front-line spinner the Bailey's Bay attack lacks variety and it remains to be seen whether the seamers of Ricky Hill and the spin of Glenn Smith and Manders is strong enough to back up the front line bowling of Anthony Braithwaite, Noel Gibbons and Clarkie Trott.

WENDELL SMITH -- A back injury may force the opening batsman out of today's Eastern Counties final.