Southampton Rangers are starting at a “disadvantage” when they put their Belco Cup title on the line this weekend, as opponents Willow Cuts already have two games under their belt.

Rangers are the most successful team in the competition since it became the Belco Cup in 2003, reaching nine finals to go with the one Camel Cup final and winning eight times. But they can expect to have their work cut out when they take on Willow Cuts in tomorrow’s semi-final at Somerset Cricket Club.

“We’ve been putting in the work, training hard and doing what we have to do,” Janeiro Tucker, the team’s veteran all-rounder, said.

Rangers’ players read about Willow Cuts’ exploits last weekend — more specifically that of Malachi Jones, a former Rangers’ player, who smashed a 105 and 98 in the matches against Somerset Bridge and Bailey’s Bay.

“With Malachi, when he gives a chance, you have to take it,” Tucker said. “He was dropped both days early in his innings and you can’t afford to drop somebody like that early in his innings.”

The defending champions are hoping their bye into the semi-finals does not work against them as they lack match practice.

“I think it is a disadvantage,” Tucker said. “We’re talking about playing a team that has two games under their belt.

“In the first game, they got batting practice against Somerset Bridge where they were taking guys out [Jones and Chris Douglas after scoring hundreds] and putting guys in.

“We’ve had numbers out in pre-season, so numbers isn’t the issue. We just have to come out of training mode and get into game mode as soon as possible. They [Cuts] have had their training and now have had their game mode, and we’re a step behind the eight-ball in that aspect.

“When you look at it, it is the top four teams in the semi-finals. It is just that the other two teams [Cuts and Cleveland] have two games in and us and St David’s haven’t played. Normally in the Belco Cup, it is the first games for everybody.”

Rangers clinched their eighth Belco Cup title last year with an 87-run win over St David’s, making them the dominant team in the competition.

“We don’t go into games thinking about that, we just go out to play cricket,” Tucker said.

“I’m still enjoying it, getting into decent shape. I’ve been doing a lot to keep myself in shape during the pre-season and even during winter when playing football, which helps me out a lot and keeps me in shape for the cricket season.”

Last year, St David’s and Rangers were the top teams, but Tucker sees the league being more competitive this season with the two divisions. “I can’t say one team is going to dominate,” he said. “Everybody will beat everybody and it will come down to who wants it the most.”

Rangers have picked up three players from Flatts — James Celestine, Maurice Lowe and Vernon Eve.

“The only one with the Premier Division experience is Celestine and he might be a good asset in our batting,” Tucker said.

2013 position: Second.

Captain: Dion Stovell.

Transfers in: Maurice Lowe (Flatts), Vernon Eve (Flatts), James Celestine (Flatts).

Transfers out: Dean Richards (PHC), Christion Gibbons (Somerset).