Reigning Western Counties champions Somerset Bridge are at it again. But this time on a bigger stage, the 2002 Champion of Champions cup competition to be exact.

Just two-weeks after pulling off a stunning 120-run triumph over Southampton, the giant-slayers are now out to add Western Stars to the casualty list.

And apart from the omission of guest player Arnold Manders, Bridge have retained the same nucleus, with seam bowler Tacoma Robinson coming in to replace the veteran Stars' player.

They will also be hoping that sole guest player Curtis Jackson - who ruthlessly took hold of a toothless Southampton bowling attack by blasting his way to a career best 183 not out - can duplicate that punishing form with the willow.

But it is in the bowling department where Bridge skipper Mark Bean believes his side have a marginal edge over their more fancied Premier Division opponents.

Denzil Dill will lead an attack that also contains the likes of Dean Stevens - a player who has come on in leaps and bounds this season with both bat and ball.

Last week the promising youngster cracked a well deserved half century in a losing cause against First Division champions PHC in the Knockout Cup.

Robinson is also expected to shoulder much of the bowling duties along with player/coach Perry Maybury and skipper Bean who has also encouraged his batsmen to apply themselves accordingly.

"We will just have to rely upon the existing batsman to fill in the gap that Arnold has left, but we feel that we have the opportunity and the ability to knock down Western Stars," said Bean.

"It's a game where we have to face quality players just like with Rangers and so we know that we can beat them.

"If the team stays focussed and remains of one mind, by the time we meet Bay on Sunday, then they too will get served.

"We are a little disappointed that we are playing at St.John's Field. We would have preferred a more neutral ground, and although we haven't played there this season we still have the bowlers to knock Stars down. We just have to get the runs."

Stars, who remain well on course to add three more trophies to their Central Counties and Combined KO Cup titles, will also welcome promising young wicketkeeper Jekon Edness back into the fold.

However, there is a question mark over the availability of both Manders and Hasan Durham.

Next week, the St.John's Road club collide with Southampton to decide the Premier Division championship at St.John's Field, while the following day they meet Cleveland in the semifinal of the Premier Division KO Cup.

Stars were also runners up in the Camel Cup to eventual winners St.David's.

Anxiously awaiting their opponents for tomorrow's final at Lord's, Bailey's Bay skipper Irving Romaine hopes his team can pick up where they left off last weekend where they defeated St.David's by five-wickets during an Eastern Counties thriller.

"Hopefully the momentum will carry over into the big final," said Romaine. "Everybody is still on a high from the Eastern Counties Cup competition.

"The players are still excited and Charlie (Marshall) is also still excited and hopefully we can come out on top."

Again Bay will go with the same nucleus that was successful last week.

"We are going to stick with the team that won us the Eastern Counties and they deserve it. So they will get their chance to win a Champions of Champions title."

During last season's final, St.David's were awarded the trophy without even having to take to the field against Willow Cuts after rain prevented play.

However, this year, all of the competing teams have agreed upon staging a bowl-off to decide the eventual winners of both matches in the event that rain should again prevent play on the pitch.

Five bowlers from both sides will be given one opportunity each to hit the stumps. The team who breaks the stumps the most will emerge victorious.

Meanwhile, in a First Division make-up match, Willow Cuts can make significant inroads toward dashing Devonshire's slim promotion hopes when they take on Social Club at Devonshire Rec. Field today.

Cuts round off a busy weekend tomorrow when their rescheduled First Division KO Cup match against Devonshire finally gets underway at St.John's Field.