There may be still light at the end of the tunnel for Somerset Cup Match hopeful Jermaine Warner.

Currently among those challenging for Dion Stovell's vacated spot at the top of the challengers' batting order, Warner received a two-match ban after being found guilty of bringing the game into disrepute during a July 15 Premier Division clash at Somerset Cricket Club between the hosts and Western Stars.

Warner is alleged to have made strong remarks and shown dissent towards senior umpire George Francis after being given out leg before wicket.

However, Bermuda Cricket Board's disciplinary committee chairman Gary Fray confirmed that the player could take part in today's final trial match at Somerset CC ¿ but only on condition Somerset pay the $250 fee for the right to appeal against Warner's ban and had submitted their protest to BCB headquarters by 5 p.m. yesterday.

Warner was named in the Vice-President's XI for today's final match in the West End and is one of three recognised opening batsmen fighting for the injured Stovell's vacated spot.

The 36-year-old Warner and Somerset team-mates Dwight Basden and Tony Cheeseman are all bidding to open the challengers' batting at Wellington Oval next week with Bailey's Bay skipper Stephen Outerbridge who should easily retain his spot.

The Somerset selectors are not predicting long deliberations choosing their team tonight with fast bowler Kevin Hurdle expected to be the only other change in the team, coming in for the retired Saleem Mukuddem who bowed out of the classic following last year's seven-wicket defeat to St. George's with an all-time leading average of 96.00 and the second highest individual score of 160 not out, achieved in Somerset in 2004.

Hurdle, who earlier this week pulled out of Bermuda's upcoming tour of Denmark, Holland and Ireland next month due to work commitments, missed last year's Cup Match through injury but is expected to get a recall to share new ball duties either with teenage quickie Malachi Jones ¿ one of seven colts who made their debut in the classic in the West End last summer ¿ or club skipper Jacobi Robinson.

Those with an outside chance of making the breakthrough could be Devonshire all-rounder Derek Brangman who has shone with both bat and ball this season as well as St.David's all-rounder Sammy Robinson who made a sparkling Cup Match debut in 1998 with an aggressive half -century (63) ¿ the ninth highest innings by a colt.

Somerset league all-rounders Jordan DeSilva and Greg Maybury jr, Cleveland seamer Dennis Musson jr and Willow Cuts medium pacer Sheroy Fubler are others that could at least prompt the selectors to think twice before they make their final choice.

In contrast, St.George's Cup Match chairman Lewis Foggo anticipates a long night at the office as the champions go about assembling a team capable of achieving three straight wins.

St.George's opted to go with three colts last year and in all likelihood are expected to make at least three changes to their team for next week's 105th classic in the East End.

With wicketkeeper/batsman Dean Minors ruled out through injury, the door is wide open for either club wicketkeeper Jason Anderson, St.David's' Chris Foggo or possibly even explosive bat Glenn Blakeney to keep behind the stumps next week.

Two players standing on shaky ground are opening bat Oronde Bascome ¿ a colt last year ¿ and early order bat Troy Hall, neither of whom have enjoyed the best of seasons and will have to go beyond the call of duty in today's final trial match to convince the selectors they are worthy of retaining their spots.

Grenada batsman James Celestine, Western Stars vice- president Maurice Lowe, St.George's league skipper Ryan Steede and club team-mate Allan Douglas jr as well as St.David's opening bat Fiqre Crockwell are all among those looking to make a breakthrough this year.

Former St.George's skipper Greg Foggo is also pushing to reclaim his spot and could bolster the East Enders' bowling attack if given the nod, while club team-mate Kyle Hodsoll, Flatts' seamer Nelson Bascome jr and England-based Stefan Kelly are also all bidding to make the grade. Kelly was a surprise ommission last year after debuting at Wellington Oval in 2005.

With a lot of young talent in the camp, St.George's' selectors must decide whether to again pick the classic's all-time run-getter Charlie Marshall (1,252 runs) or begin sowing seeds for the future. It's understood Marshall is contemplating bowing out of Cup Match after next week's game at the same venue where he marked his arrival in dramatic fashion in 1980 by becoming the first colt to score a century (100 not out) after smashing Somerset seamer Robert Hinds over the mid-wicket boundary for six with the last ball of the match.

Another veteran batsman who could be making a last Cup Match appearance if chosen is Clay Smith ¿ the first batsman to score three centuries in the classic's history.

Smith, who captained St.George's to victory in 1997 at Wellington Oval, needs only 14 more runs to join elder brother Wendell Smith and Marshall as the only other batsmen to surpass 1,000 runs.

Meanwhile, in tomorrow's Premier Division action, league leaders Social Club will attempt to get things back on track following last weekend's first loss of the season against St.George's when they travel to Southampton Oval to take on defending league champions Southampton Rangers.

Fellow title contenders Somerset and St.David's will both look to keep things close at the top. Somerset travel to Wellington Oval to take on Cleveland while St.David's are pitted against Flatts at Lord's.

This weekend's remaining Premier Division clash sees Western Stars hosting St.George's at St.John's Field.

In First Division play, Police host Bailey's Bay at Police Field, Somerset Bridge take on Warwick at White Hill Field, Leg Trappers and PHC do battle at Sea Breeze Oval while Willow Cuts host Devonshire at Somerset Cricket Club.