Warwick Workman's Club are considered the no-hopers of the Western Counties Cup competition.

With any permutation of two guest players from Ricky Hill of Bailey's Bay, Tyrone Smith of Police and Hasan Durham of league champions Western Stars, they are not expected to provide champions Southampton Rangers with more than token resistance tomorrow at Southampton Oval (11 a.m.).

Hill played against Rangers as a colt in 1991 and scored a first-innings half-century in the final. But Warwick crashed to an innings defeat.

Smith has played for Flatts in the Eastern Counties and has starred on numerous occasions in the Central Counties.

Both the aforementioned have also represented Bermuda in the ICC Trophy but it is lesser-known Durham who was the automatic when Warwick set about picking the best side to land the cup for the first time since the early '80s.

Orthodox left-arm spinner Durham has made a good start to the season since graduating from university in Canada, used primarily at Stars as the third-choice spinner in tandem with Andre Manders.

Arnold Manders and Wayne Richardson have been the logical table-setters.

And it is that option that captain Hoyt Zuill hopes will take his young side to a new level in the 60 overs match.

"We are trying to balance the team all-round to defeat Southampton,'' said the skipper. "It has been an uphill battle so far this season with a lot of new and young guys who have not played at the Premier Division level before.'' Zuill and Johnny Nusum have represented the bulk of the experience at Warwick with the availability of former international El James and his nephew Trent Lightbourne no guarantee.

James' status for tomorrow is uncertain. He has not been able to give Warwick a commitment, having played in only two of seven league matches, and there have been no signs to indicate he is willing for another county hurrah.

Lightbourne, who struck the club's top score this season of 102 in a losing effort against Somerset Bridge -- is ruled out because of religious reasons.

Of the young players at the club, Zuill expects big things from budding fast bowler Daniel Caines and Mark Tucker, son of former Rangers great St. Clair (Brinky) Tucker.

"Mark Tucker has got a lot of potential,'' said Zuill. "For some reason he has been holding that back.

"Daniel Caines has been our most on-form bowler recently. He has worked hard and his line has come around a lot.'' The skipper himself will only be playing his first match since May 30 against Willow Cuts after suffering neck and knee injuries.

While Warwick are full of optimism, they need quick be reminded that Southampton have been rather unkind to them in recent Counties meetings.

In 1991, Rangers won by an innings and 70 runs with Keith Wainwright scoring 83, Ricky Brangman 71 and Olin Jones 53 out of a total of 331 for six declared in reply to Warwick's first-innings 185.

Ricky Hill made 74 in a typically explosive first innings and 31 in the second as Warwick, whose hopes of including Adrian King as the second guest player backfired when he pulled up injured, were all out for 75.

Warwick refused the option for guest players last year and were beaten by nine wickets after scoring a mere 93. Wainwright was 51 not out for Rangers.

The cup-holders will be without youngsters Janeiro and Kwame Tucker as well as fast bowler Garry Williams who are in Denmark with the under-19 national squad for the International Youth Tournament.

Zuill feels the time to strike is now.

"We are looking at Rangers as being ripe for the taking,'' said Zuill.

"Johnny (assistant coach) and I figure this to be our best chance of dethroning Rangers.'' In their previous meeting this season, Rangers won by 123 runs after struggling at 77 for five. Half-centuries by Clevie Wade (51), Mike Brangman (59) and Janeiro Tucker (50 not out) took the favourites to 263 to put the match out of reach.

Warwick's reply was led by Daniel Morgan with 55. He was also their top wicket-taker.

Unluckily for them, he will also be unavailable as he just happens to be one of the country's best young players and is in Denmark with the aforementioned Southampton trio.

UP-HILL BATTLE -- Warwick will be counting heavily on Ricky Hill when they play Southampton tomorrow morning at the Southampton Oval.