St.George?s? hopes of dethroning champions Somerset hinge upon two key factors ? a lively pitch and a six-pronged seam attack.

But Somerset skipper Janeiro Tucker believes the East Enders? plan could backfire and play to his team?s strength ? especially in the absence of St.George?s? explosive bat Glenn Blakeney.

Tucker, who recently captained Bermuda through to the 2007 World Cup in place of the injured Clay Smith, is confident the cup will remain exactly where it is ? in the west.

Like their rivals, Somerset have made four changes from last year ? Wendell White, Curtis Jackson and Kevin Hurdle all earning recalls while club player Azeem Pitcher comes into the team as a colt.

Gone are Bailey?s Bay pair Corey Hill and Dennis Pilgrim, the retired Albert Steede and Jermaine Postlethwaite who excused himself from taking part in this year?s trials.

?I think if the wicket is pacy then it will best suit our bowlers rather than theirs. Kevin (Hurdle) is probably the Island?s best pacer while Jacobi (Robinson) can also generate a bit of pace,? said Tucker.

St.George?s have requested groundsman Clayton Raynor prepare a fast track conducive to their own attack containing the likes of colts Stefan Kelly and George O?Brien jr ? both of St.David?s.

But according to Tucker: ?It all really depends on the weather over the next day and a half. Once we arrive in St.George?s and assess the wicket and outfield then we can start preparing ourselves mentally for certain strategies such as batting or bowling first. You really can?t figure out what you want to implement in the game or how you are going to attack St.George?s until the actual day of the match.?

Tucker insists he doesn?t have any butterflies in his stomach heading to Wellington Oval for the first time as skipper.

And nor should he, given the fact that the Oval has become happy hunting ground in recent times.

The gifted all-rounder achieved both of his memorable centuries in the East End. In 1999 Tucker became the first Somerset batsmen ever to score a ton in St.George?s and then in 2001 he eclipsed Lloyd James? 39 year-old record for the highest individual score with a brutal 186.

In 2003, Tucker nearly scored a third ton in the East End, but fell short by nine runs.

?Being captain doesn?t take away from my batting. If anything it makes me more responsible. As captain I can?t afford to go out there slashing my bat about and getting myself out when my team really needs me.?

As for Somerset?s chances, the skipper added: ?I think it?s going to be business as usual for us because I?m confident the four players coming into our team are of high quality. I don?t think we have lost anything . . . if anything I think we have gained.

?I wouldn?t say St.George?s don?t have batting depth because it only takes two players to make runs. But we are looking to work hard at containing them and preventing them from getting off to a flying start. And to be honest it?s nice to see Glenn is not in their team because he can easily give you between 70 and 80 runs in less than ten overs. So I think this is definitely a plus for us.?

But not if St.George?s have anything to say in the matter, warned coach George Cannonier.

?The wicket is playing perfectly for a result and I feel if we can put enough intensity into our game then we should come out on top. We have the ball in our court and intend to use it to our advantage,? Cannonier declared.

As far St.George?s? batting depth is concerned, Cannonier stressed: ?We are depending on recognised batsmen such as Clay (Smith) and Charlie (Marshall), young Delyone (Borden), Chris Foggo, Lionel (Cann) and even Herbie (Bascome) to come through for us. And all of them are in pretty good form at the moment.

?If two of them can stick in there and form a solid partnership then I think we will get sufficient runs to defend. It?s just a matter of the guys putting their heads down and getting a half way decent score.?

The weather, Cannonier added, would also be central to St.George?s plans for a victory.

?I think the toss is going to be crucial and it will be even more interesting if the wicket is a bit sticky,? he smiled. ?The way the wicket is playing at the moment I think it is going to be a low-scoring game this year because the ball was doing all sorts of crazy stuff last Sunday.?

As for colts Kelly, O?Brien and Troy Hall, Cannonier commented: ?I?m confident they will acquit themselves well judging by the performances I saw in the last trial match.?