home draw against Devonshire Rec., Bailey's Bay are now able to concentrate more on retaining the Open Knockout title when they take on Western Stars in Saturday's's final at White Hill field (11 a.m.).

Veteran all-rounder Noel Gibbons, still upset about having Sunday's game called because of bad light, did not predict a victory against Stars but he did vow that the challengers will have to be sharp in order to beat the champions.

"I know that they will have a fight on their hands if they want to win this game. As champions we are going into the final feeling confident enough to pull it off,'' said Gibbons, who has recently returned from playing professionally in England for Halesowen of the Birmingham League Conference.

But Gibbons added that while Bay's hopes of winning the league title have been hurt as a result of Sunday's draw, it does not mean that they have now abandoned the race and become preoccupied with the knockout final. He said they expect to play with the same intensity in both the final and their forthcoming league encounter against Cleveland on Sunday.

"We are going into the remaining matches with the same attitude if we were still in good position or not, we expect all of our players to be out there looking for victory,'' said Gibbons.

"Western Stars are having a fantastic season. They have a pretty good grip on the league title right now and I'm certain that they are just as anxious to win the knockout.'' The two teams have met only once this season and that game, played in the Open League at Sea Breeze Oval in May, ended in a tame draw. Charlie Marshall cracked an undefeated century as Bailey's Bay scored 246 for four while Western Stars replied with 139 for three with Jeff Richardson not out on 65.

Gibbons recalls that game in which he was his team's second-highest scorer with a knock of 40 not out. Clarkie Trott led the Bay attack with two wickets for 19 while Wayne Richardson spearheaded Stars' attack by taking two for 37.

The veteran does not feel that last Sunday's setback against Devonshire will bother the team. There was temporary disgust when poor light was accepted by Devonshire who were reeling at 106 for nine in reply to Bailey's Bay's 204 for eight declared, leaving the home team with the assumption that umpires offered light to the batsmen to deny Bay the chance of getting maximum points.

"All I can say about that incident is that it was under very strange circumstances that were beyond my team's control. As a result we are further off target in the league race, but the fans at Sea Breeze know and understand what I am talking about,'' said Gibbons.

Gibbons himself was this week preoccupied with getting in good physical condition for the two weekend fixtures, revealing that he was fighting off a knee injury that has been bothering him.

"I think I got it after being hit on the knee cap when I was in England. It bothered me a little on Sunday but I think it should be much improved by the weekend,'' he said.

NOEL GIBBONS -- Keen to keep Bailey's Bay as Open KO champions.