team this weekend, some changes are certain to be made after three players from last year's squad were left out of Saturday's trial match.

Rodney Fubler, who was recalled last year for the first time since 1992, and his nephew Richard Basden are absent from the President and Vice President's teams as is club player Shannon Warner, who had a disappointing performance in last year's Cup Match.

Lack of interest is understood to be the reason behind the omissions. Fubler, at 39, has probably played his final Cup Match.

The question now would be who will fill the minimum of three spots. Ricky Hill and Treadwell Gibbons are two contenders for batting spots while fast bowlers Alan Brangman and Gary Williams will battle for the right to partner Roger Blades with the new ball.

Allrounders Corey Hill and Janeiro Tucker are two other strong contenders, one bidding for his first appearance and the other seeking a first recall since his debut in 1992.

Ricky Hill, who has been overlooked since 1993, sent out a warning to the Somerset selectors with a century in the Eastern Counties last weekend. There is a good chance he will be joined in the team this year by his younger brother Corey.

Ricky is in the Vice President's team led by Albert Steede while Corey will play for Dexter Basden's President's team, alongwith Gibbons.

There is a strong possibility that the Somerset team will not contain a single player from their club team, while by comparison half the St. George's team could be made up of players in their league side.

Last year the controversy over the non-payment of dues by three players -- Dean Minors, Lionel Cann and Dale Fox -- overshadowed the final trial for the Cup Match champions.

The year before there was a similiar situation regarding long-serving all-rounder Noel Gibbons, whose 23-year run in Cup Match ended in an undignified manner.

But this week the east enders are happy that no such controversy exists and that nothing other than form and performance in the final trial will determine their selection for the 95th classic next week.

In comparison to Somerset, the St. George's selectors should have an easier job as their settled team virtually picks itself, except for the odd change.

The sure bets include Dale Fox coming out -- he hasn't been chosen for the final trial -- and Dean Minors coming back in to give the team a specialist wicketkeeper. Minors is captain of the Vice-President's XI and will likely be given the job in Cup Match under Clay Smith who will mark his debut as skipper.

Opening bowler Gregg Foggo, who has been a consistent performer for the league team, looks a good bet to make his debut. With Fox certain to be overlooked it would appear that the selectors will opt for some experience in their attack, thus retaining Clarkie Trott as Foggo's strike partner.

The east enders are expected to continue to show faith in the `old heads' like Wendell Smith, Charlie Marshall, Clevie Wade, who together have more appearances than the entire Somerset team combined.

Final trial teams Somerset President's team: Dexter Basden (capt), Treadwell Gibbons, Andre Manders, Jeff Richardson, Gladwin Edness, Kevin Fubler, Shaun Roberts, Curtis Lee, Lyle Millett, Alan Brangman, Corey Hill, Cordell Gilbert.

Vice President's team: Albert Steede (capt), Ricky Hill, Roger Blades, Gary Williams, Hasan Durham, Janeiro Tucker, Mark Trott, Roger Trott, Dwight Basden, Tony Cheeseman, Troy Symonds, Dwayne Basden.

St. George's President's XI: Clay Smith (capt), Glenn Smith, Wendell Smith, Jermaine Postlethwaite, Clevie Wade, Troy Hall, Jason Simons, Clarkie Trott, Gregory Foggo, Kameron Fox, David Adams. Vice President's XI: Dean Minors (capt), Dexter Smith, Eugene Foggo, Charlie Marshall, Graham Fox, Cleon Scotland, Jermaine Outerbridge, Lionel Cann, Herbie Bascome, Ryan Steede, Gregory Talbot.

Reserves for both teams are Sinclair Gibbons, Mackie Crane, Ben Phipps.