THE Cup Match clubs could both make as many as four changes to their teams after tomorrow’s final Cup Match trials.Champions St. George’s won’t have to to make too many changes from last year’s team which won convincingly by seven wickets, the only change they have to make is replacing wicketkeeper Dean Minors who has knee problems. However, such is the competition for places that three players could be battling for Minors’ spot — Jason Anderson of the club team and Chris Foggo of St. David’s as well as Glenn Blakeney.

Blakeney will be mainly competing for one of the batting spots but could also be asked to keep wicket. Like Anderson and Foggo, he could also be asked to open the innings, something he has done in the past.

The second opening spot has been an area that hasn’t been adequately filled in the St. George’s team for a number of years and last year Delyone Borden faced the new ball alongside colt Oronde Bascome while another colt, Rodney Trott, went from number ten in the first innings to opener in the second as St. George’s needed just 77 runs to wrap up victory.

The batting could also be boosted by the inclusion of James Celestine of Flatts who recently early a call-up to the Bermuda team for next month’s trip to Denmark, Holland and Ireland. One player who will need a good knock to retain his place is Troy Hall whose form this season has been patchy with the club team, as has Bascome’s.

The bowling attack, led last year by St. David’s pair Arthur Pitcher and George O’Brien, could become even more potent if the selectors decide to grant Gregg Foggo a recall. As a left-hander he would bring variety to the attack, but somebody would have to be dropped to accomodate him. Tthere are other players who could also make a challenge, including last year’s two reserves, seamer Kyle Hodsoll, who just returned from Barbados with the under-19s and spinner Tre Govia, the under-15 player who played for Bailey’s Bay in the Eastern Counties last weekend. Fiqre Crockwell of St. David’s, Western Stars batsman Maurice Lowe and Rudell Pitcher are all hoping for a chance to impress in the last trial.

Chairman of the St. George’s selectors, Lewis Foggo, admitted the club had plenty of players to pick and anticipated a long night for the selectors once they go into the club office to deliberate.

“We have 24, 25 guys capable of making the team, but only 22 can play in the last trial,” said Foggo prior to the selection of the trial teams earlier this week.

“It goes without saying that somebody is going to be disappointed, might even be angry, but at the end of the day you can only pick 11 players.”

Foggo assures the St. George’s fans the team picked will be capable of holding on to the trophy. “We’re champions and plan on remaining champions, not only by keeping it (draw) but hopefully winning it,” he said.

Certainly the end is coming near for veteran batsman Charlie Marshall, but his reputation as a big day player certainly holds sway with the selectors...even if he is now in his mid-40s and twice the age of most of his teammates. Marshall made his debut 27 years ago when he scored a century on his debut at Wellington Oval and the record run-getter would probably like to go out with one last home appearance.

Seemingly that is also the thinking of former captain Clay Smith who needs only 14 runs to become the third player to amass 1,000 runs in Cup Match history.

The Somerset selectors will also have plenty to think about as they try to prevent the east enders making it three wins in a row, something that has not been achieved by either team since since turf wickets were introduced to Cup Match back in 1971.

Somerset, who included four colts last year, could make that many changes this year as they seek a balanced team. Saleem Mukudden (retired) and Dion Stovell (injured) are two changes forced upon the west enders while wicketkeeper Kwame Tucker and pace bowler Kevin Hurdle - both injured last year - are pushing for a recall.

Somerset will have a new captain now that Janeiro Tucker has been replaced after suffering defeats in 2005 and 2006. Initially he decided not to play this year based on the manner in which he was stripped of the captaincy, but the air has been cleared between player and club and the west enders will be relieved to have their most experienced batsman available for selection.

Hasan Durham will lead the team, chosen ahead of club captain Jacobi Robinson, but the bulk of the team should remain intact with Hurdle probably coming back to take the new ball spot vacated by Mukuddem, whose has left a batting spot to fill in the middle order. His absence has left the door open for Azeem Pitcher and Dean Stephens to step up and play a bigger role in the batting while the all-rounder’s spot could eventually be filled by Stephens and teenager Malachi Jones whose century this week in the Sir Garfield Sobers tournament gives him a boost ahead of Cup Match.

Stephens gave a reminder of his allround talent to the Somerset selectors last year in the final trial when he claimed five wickets and scored 60 to virtually pick himself.

It is what a number of players at both clubs will be hoping to do tomorrow.