another year but St. George's vice captain Arnold Manders has his sights set on an unmatched achievement this year.

The Western Stars allrounder, who will get the opening job alongside colt Dexter Smith in the St. George's lineup, needs one more century to become the first batsman to score three tons in the classic. He says he is in the mood to do it this year, and considering Somerset's friendly attack he might just succeed.

As he showed last weekend he is prepared to bat for a long time, playing second fiddle to his partner if need be, to get to that historic third century.

"That's what keeps me motivated and I would like to do it this year,'' said Manders after a training session on Monday evening. Manders is one of only three players with two centuries in Cup Match -- past St. George's greats Rupert Scotland and Lloyd James being the others.

If Manders can be the first to notch three centuries it will climax a Cup Match career that has had more than its share of ups and downs. For seldom has there been a player so unsure of his position in the team from one year to the next.

"I was dropped three times and a fourth time I missed it (Cup Match) because I was in summer school so I could graduate early from college,'' Manders stated. "The year I sat out was when St. George's brought the cup back (1983).'' To appoint the former Western Stars and Bermuda skipper as vice captain to Graham Fox shows how highly the St. George's selectors value his experience and knowledge of the game. It caught him by surprise, and even though he is one of the stalwards in the team, having been there on and off since his debut in 1978, Manders still knows better than to take his place for granted.

Maybe this year he will also play a key role in the bowling department with his off-breaks, having been largely overlooked in the past for the team's other spinners. Last year he bowled 17 overs and took two for 44 in Somerset's only innings so that might be changing.

"You need that type of pressure on you to keep your game up,'' he says of his spot. "I know I've got two or three good years left but I also know I have to score runs to keep my place in the team.'' Even though Manders doesn't open the innings for his club he is more than happy to do the job in Cup Match, having done so on three previous occasions.

He has a close link with Somerset's three main bowlers, with captain Perry Maybury being his brother-in-law and Wayne Richardson and Allan Brangman his teammates at Western Stars. They would like nothing more than to keep him away from that third century.

Two other Somerset players are even closer to him than that -- his brothers Andre and Anthony -- who will do their best to see that he does not add to the two centuries he scored in 1986 and `88. The biggest fan of the Manders brothers, their mother Marlene, will miss their first Cup Match together as she is travelling abroad today.

"The thing that puts a damper on it is my mother won't be here to witness it,'' the older son admits. "We're the only two for St. George's.'' Having the chance to open the innings in the absence of Wendell Smith makes Manders realise he has a good chance to get that third century this year.

"If I can stay to the wicket and see the opening attack off my chances of making my third century are pretty good,'' he feels. "That would be a milestone, getting that century.

"St. George's have at least a couple of players who have a chance of breaking that record. Clay (Smith) has a chance to score four of five before he finishes playing. I can see Clay being the leading run-getting in Cup Match, even ahead of Wendell.'' Both Clay and Wendell scored their first Cup Match centuries last year in a record breaking second wicket stand.

Manders sees colts Brangman and Richardson as major threats. "Allan is probably right now the best strike bowler in Bermuda with the new ball,'' says Manders. "Obviously Wayne, if the wicket is taking turn, will cause some problems to anybody coming to the wicket.

"But I look at Somerset's team and I don't think that over the two days they can beat us. If our opening bats can see Allan and Perry off I don't think Somerset can beat us with three bowlers.''