St. George's captain Clay Smith has thrown out the ultimate challenge to his players -- hand Somerset an innings defeat in the 97th Cup Match.

On paper St. George's have a clear edge, which makes their coach and former captain Wendell Smith all the more worried about complacency creeping in during the Thursday/Friday match at Somerset.

But younger brother Clay believes he has the perfect answer to any signs of overconfidence.

"I'm giving my players the challenge of giving Somerset a two-to-one,'' said Smith, who is returning to the scene of an embarrassing defeat two years ago.

"I have no worries at all about going back up to Somerset. With Herbie (Bascome), Gary (Brangman), Lionel (Cann) and Ryan (Steede) as my seam bowlers, I have a lot of confidence in these guys to get us the good start that we need.

"I honestly feel that we can go up there and beat Somerset. I have to give them some sort of motivation and incentive to go ahead and challenge themselves and give Somerset a two-to-one. I think it's possible.'' The champions look far stronger than Somerset who, with their four colts, will have to rely heavily on the likes of captain Dexter Basden and vice captain Albert Steede to build a solid foundation in their batting.

But as Steede showed two years ago with his first century, he can singlehandedly make a big difference.

"Someone like Albert Steede is going to have to have a phenomenal game in order for them to win,'' said Wendell, the highest scorer in Cup Match history with 1,143 runs.

"It's a bit of a relief to know we don't have Tready Gibbons and Richard Basden to have to deal with. I think they are looking to rebuild their team, looking at his (Gibbons') age.'' It would appear that Somerset see their strength being the four-prong spin attack of Kevin Fubler, Del Hollis, Dwayne Leverock and Hasan Durham. But Smith warns that colt Charles Swan and Janeiro Tucker with the new ball will have to be watched closely.

"Charles Swan could be a dark horse. He swings the ball about a bit and Janeiro can swing it as well,'' said Wendell.

"From our batting point of view we can't be complacent and underestimate them. I noticed it with the guys during the final trial when there was a bit of confidence and I don't want to be overconfident to the point where it costs us.'' Wendell plans to remind the team how St. David's beat a strong Bailey's Bay team in the Eastern Counties last year with their league players. "Same thing with the World Cup final, how many people thought Brazil would lose to France the way they did?'' Smith asked. "My main job as the coach is to get the mindset right.'' The $64,000 question is whether the Somerset bowling is strong enough to penetrate a St. George's batting line-up that runs very deep from veteran Arnold Manders and Mark Ray at the top of the order right down to Eugene Foggo and Gary Brangman in the tailend.

"Last year you saw how Glenn (Blakeney) entertained everyone and I think it would be a real delight to see one of our top bats in full flight,'' said Wendell.

The last time the match was in Somerset, the crowd were treated to some splendid batting from Albert Steede who paced the west enders to one of the most exciting victories in recent years. Victory was achieved in near darkness at 8.16 p.m. with only two balls left in the game as Somerset scored 253-7 in 76 minutes plus the final 20 overs.

This time, with Gibbons -- who shared in the third highest ever opening stand of 119 with Steede two years ago -- not picked, the pressure will be on a few batsmen to come good.

Their colts, Irving Romaine, Kwame Tucker and Sammy Robinson, will face a lot of pressure as St. George's are loaded with bowlers, from seamers Herbie Bascome, Gary Brangman, Lionel Cann, Ryan Steede, to spinners Eugene Foggo, Clay Smith and Arnold Manders.

Somerset's captain and coach, Basden and Winston Reid, both promised that the challengers would put up a good fight.

Reid, too, is expecting some big things from Romaine. "He looks real good and I will be disappointed if he doesn't score a few runs,'' said the coach. He disagrees with Clay Smith over talk of a two-to-one, a result not achieved since turf wickets were introduced in 1971. The last time a team won by an innings was in 1967 when St. George's achieved it.

"I suppose they would have to score 700 runs by three o'clock on the first day in order to do that,'' said Reid bluntly. "I don't see a two-to-one, the wicket is going to be a good wicket.'' Reid admitted there would be no hiding any of the four colts, all of whom will be expected to perform. "They are all playing Cup Match and there is no hiding nothing now,'' said the former opening batsman.

"St. George's have a good allround team but if we stick to our game plan and exploit batsmen's weaknesses we can come out on top. It's going to be important for the senior players to play the role and show their worth.

"I don't think we're going to be outclassed. We were outclassed last year but this year we have a different wicket. We are keener than keen.'' Basden thinks the pressure is off Somerset who are neither the champions nor the favourites. He also responded to Clay Smith's talk of playing for a two-to-one.

"I just hope he's a man of his word,'' said Basden. "Nobody likes to see a boring Cup Match and I'm glad he put out that challenge. I hope he sticks with it.

"Everybody is saying that St. George's have a powerful team, and they do have a good team, but the last time they were in Somerset in 1996 they had a strong side and we took them.

"When you are on the top there is only one place to go, you have to come down a little. I've been to the top and dropped down, but I I know what it takes to win.'' Basden has two choices for the opening spot alongside Steede, either himself or Kwame Tucker.

"Between Albert and myself, one of us has to get a big knock,'' the skipper acknowledged. "But don't count the colts out, mainly Kwame Tucker who is in good form. I didn't put him in the team to hide him.'' The match starts at 10.00 a.m. each day and will conclude at 7.30 on the first day. The final 20 overs in the last hour on Friday evening begin at 6.30.

ONE TO WATCH -- Glenn Blakeney was voted Cup Match MVP after helping St.

George's to victory in last year's classic. And the Bailey's Bay batsman will be looking for more runs when the big game gets underway at Somerset tomorrow morning.