Last year at Somerset, then champions St. George's carried a team that had twice as many combined appearances in Cup Match (81 to 39) as their opponents.

Now, 12 months later, Somerset hold a slight edge (51 to 48) after St.

George's lost Wendell Smith and Clevie Wade and then dropped Charlie Marshall, three of their most productive veterans.

Between them the trio have made 52 appearances in Cup Match, more than the whole Somerset team combined last year.

This year, in the 96th annual match at Wellington Oval, the most experienced player in the St. George's team is the recalled Arnold Manders who has played in 12 Cup Matches since his debut back in 1978. His younger brother Andre has appeared 14 times for Somerset since 1982 while Richard Basden, returning after sitting out last year, has played 10 times.

Interestingly, Somerset's experience lies in their batting while their key bowlers have just seven appearances between them.

But as the West Enders showed in 1996, experience didn't count for much as St.

George's were humbled by a three wicket loss in one of the most exciting results in Cup Match in recent years.

More than half of Somerset's runs -- 145 -- came in the final 20 overs as Albert Steede's century paced them to a thrilling win with just two balls remaining.

"After scoring 253 runs in an hour and 20 minutes plus 20 overs they deserved it,'' said a disappointed St. George's captain Clay Smith afterwards.

One thing the Somerset victory has done is generate tremendous interest in this year's event. Both captains as well as St. George's groundsman and president, Mansfield Smith, are predicting an outright winner.

There hasn't been one at the Wellington Oval ground since 1981 when Somerset were already champions. It has been even longer, 1969, since the home team have won there.

As they did in 1980, the year after they last lost the cup, St. George's have made several changes to their team in a bid to win back the cup quickly.

That year it was four and this year they have made five, bringing in four colts, while Somerset have made only the three changes forced on them by the unavailability of Jeff Richardson, Roger Blades and Janeiro Tucker.

The champions will rely heavily on the batting of vice-captain Steede, captain Dexter Basden, veteran opener Treadwell Gibbons, Andre Manders, Roger Trott, Richard Basden and Dwayne Leverock in the top seven.

Victory for St. George's will depend on their ability to penetrate that solid line-up...twice. Their three key bowlers will be pace pair Herbie Bascome and Gary Brangman and spinner David Adams. But there is plenty of variety also in seam bowlers Lionel Cann and Mark Ray and slow bowlers Eugene Foggo and Arnold Manders.

Last year Basden relied on five bowlers to do the job with Hasan Durham's seven for 71 in the second innings a key to their victory.

The wickets at Wellington Oval have favoured the spin bowlers over the years and the make-up of both teams reflects that expectation.

Somerset will use Hasan Durham, Kevin Fubler and Dwayne Leverock as their spinners while St. George's will look to Adams, Foggo and Manders. The captain can also call on himself and Glenn Blakeney if they need to break a stand.

"I'm looking for a win one way or the other,'' said Mansfield Smith in between rolling the wicket yesterday.

The strip was also used on Saturday for the final trial. It was lively in the morning before becoming easier to bat on later in the day. There is a fair amount of grass on the wicket which Smith says he will leave.

"It's going to take a lot of spin, especially on the second day,'' the groundsman assured.

The 10-ton roller which has been used in the past is absent this year and the final preparations will involve only a light rolling today and tomorrow morning.

Then it's down to business as the teams battle for local cricket's oldest trophy.

ALBERT STEEDE -- his century guided Somerset to victory a year ago.

THE TEAMS (Debut year and number of appearances in brackets) SOMERSET Dexter Basden (1988, 8) Albert Steede (1989, 8) Andre Manders (1982, 14) Richard Basden (1985, 10) Roger Trott (1985, 3) Treadwell Gibbons (1996, 1) Corey Hill (1996, 1) Dwayne Leverock (1990, 1) Hasan Durham (1994, 3) Kevin Fubler (1995, 2) Kevin Hurdle (colt) ST. GEORGE'S Clay Smith (1987, 9) Dean Minors (1988, 6) Arnold Manders (1978, 12) David Adams (1986, 8) Eugene Foggo (1988, 6) Lionel Cann (1993, 4) Glenn Blakeney (1991, 3) Herbie Bascome (colt) Jason Lewis (colt) Mark Ray (colt) Gary Brangman (colt)