Today is the day St. David's fans have waited for a whole year - revenge time!

What's more their quest to recapture the precious Eastern Counties trophy from Bailey's Bay will play out on their home turf, Lord's, and on the occasion of the Eastern Counties 100th match.

However, Bay have no plans to relinquish their hold on the cup and their supporters - who are just as vocal as those of their hosts - will be fully expecting to take the spoils with them when they leave St. David's after sundown tonight.

Add to this fierce rivalry the fact that one of contemporary cricket's greatest players - Brian Lara - and some of his West Indian peers will be in attendance and the atmosphere at the Island's easternmost ground should be, in teenage parlance, "off the hook".

Both sides have bolstered their teams significantly in anticipation of a fight to the bitter - and in one team's case, sweet - end. Only time will tell whose line-up is more potent.

The champions have put their faith in Dennis Pilgrim - back from an overseas work stint specially for this match - to lead them in this vital clash and also welcome Stephen Outerbridge and Rodney Trott back after overseas assignments.

As usual, their batting receives a robust fillip with the inclusion of guest players, Charlie Marshall and Glenn Blakeney; both ruthless batsmen capable of wrecking bowling attacks."It's a big match. The guys are focused and we know St. David's are going to come all guns blazing. They want to get back at Bay. They are seeking revenge.

"It's very important to us because Flatts gave us a scare in the last County game. Bay just got too complacent and made some silly changes in the batting line-up which cost them. I won't be making those type of decisions.

"If we've got somebody on the ropes we're going to kill them off," said Pilgrim, chastising his team for nearly throwing away certain success against Flatts two weeks ago.

Failing to finish the job, he admitted, has been Bay's problem in the past and he warned this is not a situation in which they can afford to give the opposition any quarter.

"We get too complacent and instead of finishing the game, the guys start celebrating too early and sometimes it bites you in the long run.

"The guys have to be focused and take the game seriously."

St. David's will be fighting fire with just as much - or perhaps more - fire.

Omitted are many of their regular league line-up in favour of five impressive guest players - Albert Steede, Gregg Foggo, Jacobi Robinson, Wilbur Burt and Herbie Bascome.

Skipper Clay Smith is confident he has the winning formula to regain the championship which was ripped from St. David's grasp in dramatic fashion last year as Bay overhauled a target of 281 (in 69.1 overs), replying with 283 for five in just 42.2 overs.

"Our team is very prepared for this. We've had 14 to 20 guys training for the last three weeks. We're very focused. We've put a lot of hard work into our preparations and we believe that if you prepare well you get your just reward."

Being the challengers, he noted, allows "you to play a lot more carefree than you would if you had the cup". This augurs well for his plan to be aggressive and take the fight to the champions.

"We're going to play positive cricket and the team we've selected - if our side play anywhere near their potential - there's no reason why we can't bring the trophy back home."

Smith said St. David's has strategies for if they bat or bowl first but declined to disclose anything further.

"So after the toss we'll know which strategy we're going to put into place."

Pilgrim - who smashed the winning six last year - noted that recent rainfall could affect the pitch and he would determine what's better for Bay after inspecting the wicket. However, personally, he does not think it really matters what they do first except for the advantage of having 70 overs at their disposal if they take first knock.

Victory for Bay, he said, would give the team added confidence and an opportunity to make amends for last year when they lost the Champion of Champions to Western Stars.

"If we play as one and play to our strengths I think we can retain the cup and, hopefully, go on to win the Champion of Champions trophy too."

@EDITRULE:

Bailey's Bay: Dennis Pilgrim (captain), Glenn Blakeney, Jermaine Warner, Dennis Trott, Jermaine Outerbridge, Stephen Outerbridge, Charlie Marshall, Rodney Trott, Rodrick Masters, Corey Hill and Clarkie Trott.

St. David's: Clay Smith (captain), Albert Steede, Delyone Borden, Chris Foggo, O.J. Pitcher, Lionel Cann, Herbie Bascome, Gregg Foggo, Jacobi Robinson, Arthur Pitcher Jr and Wilbur Burt.