in the Dudley Eve Trophy, but once teams qualify they can be expected to make every effort to win the tournament.

That, certainly, will be the approach of the four competing teams when the first round of the competition gets underway tonight at Somerset Cricket Club.

Hosts Somerset will go in search of a second Dudley Eve success, one which they hope won't come at a price -- namely more additions to their already long injury list.

Trojans coach Josef Gooden admitted yesterday to having mixed feelings about being in the competition -- on the one hand trying to win it for the first time as a coach but on the other aware that there could be a price to pay.

"It (success) could definitely come at a price,'' said Gooden on the eve of his team's opening match against PHC, the most successful team in the competition.

"For most of our guys this will be their first experience in the Dudley Eve.

We have only won it once so there is an incentive for us to win it. It could be a major step in our season.'' The Trojans are the leaders at the halfway stage of the league season as Gooden looks to cap his first year as coach with a league title. The last time the club won the league -- two years ago -- they also won the Dudley Eve for the first time.

"It's really up to the team. We have done reasonably well so far,'' said Gooden. "The second half of the season really starts for us tomorrow night.'' Despite injury problems in a squad with many new faces because of team rebuilding, Somerset have surprised some sceptics by rising to the top of the standings. Their one point lead would have been wider had it not been for a surprise loss to bottom team BAA recently.

"If you look at Somerset's history, we are usually a second half team, so hopefully that trend will continue,'' said Gooden. "Most of our players have tasted success with the junior teams and they're doing really well.

"If we can avoid more injuries, and that's our main objective, then we could make a run for it in the second half. We haven't had the same eleven two weeks in a row. Our main goal is to be more settled.'' Somerset could be boosted by the return of college students Eugene Dean, Kirk Simons and David Rahman, whose brother Andrew is one of the doubtfuls because of a foot injury he received during Bermuda's Pan-Am Games qualifying tie in Jamaica.

"He hasn't played since he's been back,'' Gooden disclosed. "Hopefully we can get him back for at least some of the games. His foot is still sore.

"The other person I would have used is Musceo Hunt but he just had a knee operation.'' Somerset's other casualties include Anthony Bailey, Jerry Webb and Jermaine Burrows while Randy Simmons is still bothered by a hamstring injury.

"We have as good a chance as anybody else, but it's up to the team,'' said Gooden. "If they want it and can play up to the level they have been playing all this time then I think it's a realistic goal.'' All of the four teams will be looking to take the quickest possible route to the final. Winning their first two games is the difference between playing a third match on December 28 or having a four day break between Boxing Day and the first final on December 30.

"First and foremost is to qualify in as few games as possible,'' said Gooden.

"We don't want to play that extra game and then go back in another two days and play in the final.

"A lot of times the teams that play the extra game are really tired when they play in the second half of the league.'' Somerset can expect a tough start to the competition against PHC who they beat in the 1992-93 final, while the night's second match will feature current champions Dandy Town against Boulevard in what should be another evenly balanced contest.