players make their final bids to impress the selectors for the annual Cup Match.

Challengers Somerset, with more selection headaches than the east enders, will rely on their only trial match of the year as they seek to come up with a winning team for next week's classic.

It is a far cry from days gone by when the clubs hosted up to half a dozen trial matches leading up to the big match. Among reasons given as to why the number of matches are down are a busy domestic schedule, which leaves fewer Saturdays available, and the demands placed on players.

"It's unfortunate we didn't have more trials this year,'' said St. George's president and former selector Mansfield Smith. "We should have gotten about three more in.'' Aside from the day after the May 24 holiday, most Saturdays are being taken up with either county games, Knockout Cup or makeup games, he said.

"What you get is guys working five days a week and then the league programme was doubling up earlier in the season,'' Smith explained. "A lot of guys have families and need to spend more time at home.

"We can only have trials if they clash with county games.'' Now the two Cup Match clubs have also agreed to play a Colts Cup Match prior to the main event rather than in early September. That means there is another Saturday that has to be found.

With St. George's the lack of trials makes it difficult for a newcomer to break into their team. It is still in their constitution that a first-year member has to play a minimum of three matches for the club prior to being selected.

"This is why it is important that we have more trials,'' said Smith. That stipulation, plus the strength of the club's league team, often means that players wishing to break into the Cup Match team end up joining the league team.

"It's put there so that we have a strong league side every time,'' said Smith. "That's why you find we should have five to seven league players in Cup Match.'' But while half the Cup Match team could come from within, Somerset cannot boast similiar strength in their league team. In fact this year they may not have a single representative from their club side.

And despite the strength of their Cup Match team, St. George's are already casting their net far and wide in hopes of landing the best of the younger players.

While they will be ineligible this year, Cleveland pair Jason Simons and Gregory Talbot, have been picked for Saturday's final trial match. They are seen as players for the future.

"We pick perspective future players, invite them to play and hope they will choose us when they go for Cup Match,'' Smith explained.

"They don't have to be members to play in the final test match.'' One player already looked to be ruled out this year is fast bowler Dale Fox who has not been picked for the final trial because of his few appearances this year with St. David's.

Allrounder Lionel Cann confirmed from Scotland this week that he will be arriving tomorrow in time to play in the final trial. Cann will be back home until August 6 and plans to play a couple of matches with St. David's in the Premier League.

Trial teams President's XI: Clay Smith (captain), Glenn Smith, Wendell Smith, Jermaine Postlethwaite, Clevie Wade, Troy Hall, Jason Simons, Clarkie Trott, Gregg Foggo, Kameron Fox, David Adams.

Vice President's XI: Dean Minors (capt), Dexter Smith, Eugene Foggo, Charlie Marshall, Graham Fox, Cleon Scotland, Jermaine Outerbridge, Lionel Cann, Herbie Bascome, Ryan Steede, Gregory Talbot.

Reserves for both teams are Sinclair Gibbons, Mackie Crane, Ben Phipps. Match starts at 10 a.m.