Don't write us off yet!

That's the message from Willow Cuts' stalwart Dexter Basden.

Cuts, who lost their opening seven games of the season, have managed to turn their fortunes around in recent weeks.

Inspired first by a league win over PHC, the west end club then dethroned Western Counties holders Somerset Bridge in last Saturday's first round clash at White Hill Field, and on the next day put a major dent in St.George's' league title hopes with another inspiring performance at Somerset Cricket Club.

According to Basden, morale is high in the camp following the team's recent resurgence.

"For the last three seasons, we have always done badly in the first half of the season," he noted. "We tend to pick up the majority of our wins in the second half."

Last year proved his point as a late second half surge in the First Division saw Cuts ultimately pip Devonshire for promotion during their final league match against Social Club.

"We haven't been pressing the panic button, it's just that out of the last seven games we have to play we need to win at least five of them to be certain of avoiding relegation," added Basden.

"Hopefully we can take care of Somerset (on Sunday) . . . they got away from us earlier this season when they beat us by 13 runs. If we can take care of them, then it would certainly give us a tremendous boost because I think we would move ahead of them - or at least close the gap to make things very interesting coming down to the wire."

However, an even greater challenge awaits the newly-crowned Western Counties champions in the form of Southampton Rangers and the unavailability of young all-rounder Jacobi Robinson.

Robinson is presently in Canada representing Bermuda's Under-19 youth squad.

"We will not have Jacobi and it's also a possibility that we may not have Michael Corday (wicketkeeper)," noted Basden, who hinted that either former Rangers player Sidney Simmons or Bailey's Bay batsman Jermaine (Sox) Warner could be recalled.

"We've always had Jermaine on standby as a guest player. His dues have been paid and he's been training with us this week," confirmed Basden. "Sidney can also play as a guest player."

However, the only question remaining is whether Cuts will include another batsman or simply look to solidify their bowling attack, especially since they are about to come up against one of the most experienced batting line-ups in the league in Rangers.

"It's going to be interesting because we may be minus a bowler," added Basden, suggesting that the team may look to reinforce their batting for Saturday's clash.

"But I'm confident Reggie Tucker can pick up the slack. That leaves either Charles Swan, Wendell White or even young Trevor Corday to open the bowling.

"Then we still have the likes of Richard (Basden), Bergon Spencer and Tucker who can pick up any slack later on."

Basden said the selectors were prepared to take a gamble.

"It's going to be a gamble. But I think we will knit something together and we are confident that we can get the job done," he added.

With regards to Cuts' lowly league position, Basden insisted: "We are pushing to survive. And if we can take care of Somerset, then from there we will take things one match at a time. There's still some way to go and we are just as good as anybody else."