Somerset captain Jordan DeSilva has warned St George’s that his side are not travelling to Wellington Oval to sit on their bats and play for a draw.

“We always look to win,” DeSilva said.

“We have never gone into Cup Match looking to draw, and that’s going to be the goal come Thursday.”

The west enders have had the prized trophy on lockdown since 2012 and are showing no sign of letting up after emphatic ten wicket-wins in their previous two outings in the summer spectacle.

So just exactly what is it that motivates DeSilva and his supporting cast?

“Honestly, it’s the legacy that we are trying to leave. We just do our job every year and are trying to keep it going as long as we possibly can,” DeSilva said.

“We realise that we are a golden generation and it’s been a long time since the team has had the cup as long as we’ve had it. We are just looking to build that and, at the end of the day, we don’t want to be the ones that let it go.

“We are already trying to put plans into place so that the next group of players are set up before we go. All that has already been talked about and that’s our goal; to just keep it going as long as we can.”

As a son of the soil, DeSilva has added incentive as he serves his beloved Somerset community.

“It means a lot being from Somerset my whole life,” he said. “It’s just a pleasure to represent Somerset people because that’s where I’ve always lived and they’ve always taken care of me.

“They have supported me to this day and all I do every year is try and give that back to them the best I can.”

DeSilva is also motivated by a burning desire to build upon the solid foundation he inherited after succeeding Jekon Edness as Somerset’s captain in 2016.

“I have a great team around me and I’ve said that from day one,” he said.

“A lot of it was built before me and my goal was just maintain it and try to get it to a higher level, and that is the goal year to year.”

Somerset will take on a St George’s side bolstered by Bermuda captain Delray Rawlins, but DeSilva insists his side have done their homework and are fully prepared.

“I think there is a lot of batting in that team and Delray is going to make any team he plays for better,” DeSilva said.

“I was very happy for Brian Hall who has been unlucky on numerous occasions and had tried out for us a couple of times. I think it’s nice that he finally got his chance and congratulations to Azende Furbert, the colt, as well.”

Hall, Furbert and Rawlins are among four changes to St George’s team from last year with the other being a recall for Charles Trott.

“They have some players that we have played against and some that we haven’t,” DeSilva noted.

“We know what Allan Douglas Jr is going to do and Treadwell Gibbons Jr had a good Cup Match last year.

“Onias Bascome as captain is always going to look to lead from the front, so it’s business as usual for us and we will talk about who to bowl to.

“Delray is obviously the odd one but we have played against him a bit this year and know a lot about the other guys. We know how to get them out, what bowlers they struggle against, so that type of stuff won’t change.”

Somerset have also undergone a subtle facelift this year with Bailey’s Bay seamer Macquille Walker coming in for Greg Maybury Jr and Cleveland County wicketkeeper Steven Bremar Jr replacing Khiry Furbert of Western Stars.

“I think every year we change personnel but the make up doesn’t change too much,” DeSilva said.

“Both changes were straight swaps; opening bowler for an opening bowler and a wicketkeeper for a wicketkeeper.

“I thought that Macquille picked himself on Saturday. He impressed me then and during Eastern Counties. He has impressed me basically every time I have seen him bowl and on Saturday he really had the ball doing a lot and just looks like he takes a lot of wickets.

“Steven just proved that he wanted his spot back after losing it last year. He was probably the best wicketkeeper out of the four that we had on show on Saturday and he got the nod at the end of the night.”

DeSilva ahas high expectations for colt Walker along with key batsmen Chris Douglas, Alje Richardson and Tre Manders.

“I think Macquiille is going to come and show the people who haven’t seen him yet how good he is and let’s see where it takes us,” he said.

“We have some batsmen, Alje and Tre, who struggled last Cup Match and they are going to look to right that wrong this year.

“There has been a lot of talk about Chris and if was he going to play or not, but he is playing and we expect him to prove why he is the best opener in Bermuda.”

Walker is thrilled to have earned his spot in the champion’s team and is looking forward to the big occasion.

“Words can’t explain how excited I am,” he said.

“I am thankful to get in finally and just taking it one step at a time right now. I’m definitely looking forward to my debut and just going to do the same things I have been doing all year and see what happens on the day.”