Ryan Steede, the St George’s coach, has expressed disappointment over the decisions of two of his key players to make themselves unavailable for Cup Match.

The challengers have been forced to make at least two changes from last year’s team to fill the voids created by seam bowler George O’Brien and all-rounder Rodney Trott.

Both players have not participated in any of the club’s training sessions and are ruled out of contention as neither has been included in the final trial match at Wellington Oval on Saturday.

Steede said neither player notified St George’s of their unavailability for Cup Match,

“Those guys have made themselves unavailable and I’m disappointed because people want to see the best 22 players,” Steede said. “People consider them among the best 22 and they are not here to show their talent, which is unfortunate.

“Cup Match is a special occasion and not a regular game. It’s a holiday for the public to enjoy the best cricketers who have put in the work ethic and deserve the right to be there.

“But they haven’t been training so they basically made themselves unavailable. We haven’t seen them at Cup Match training and we have been training for six weeks. They never notified us they are unavailable. They didn’t make themselves available and I hope we are not the ones to be blamed for it. The club should not be held accountable for their actions.”

Trott helped St George’s salvage a draw in the rain-affected match at Wellington Oval last year, with an unbroken 46-run partnership with Lionel Cann.

St George’s were reduced to 58 for five after starting their second innings 122 runs behind Somerset’s first-innings total of 211 for seven declared.

O’Brien claimed two for 46 and Trott one for 46 in Somerset’s first and only innings.

“I would have liked for them to have been a part, but the show must go on,” Steede added.

“It’s two spots that have to be filled and so it’s opportunities for guys to grab them.”

Among those in contention for O’Brien’s vacant spot is Stefan Kelly, who has been selected for the Vice-President’s XI, to be captained by Cann in the final trial.

The President’s XI will be captained by Macai Simmons, who led St George’s for the first time in the East End last year.

“The teams have been picked and anybody can step up on the day,” Steede said.

“Preparations have been good and Wendell [Smith, the assistant coach] and I have done a lot together. We have worked good together and have a good understanding and hopefully we reap the rewards come August 2 and 3.”