the Western Counties Cup, with arch-rivals Warwick Workman's Club playing the part of the unwilling foe at Southampton Oval (11 a.m. start).

Last year saw Southampton wrest the title from Somerset Bridge in the second round and proceed to demolish Warwick by an innings and 70 runs in the two-day final. Warwick are now in a rebuilding phase with several changes to the team that took part in that thrashing.

Although not expected to carry any guest players, additions to the team include batsmen Sheridan Ming and Kevin Dill, both of whom played in the Commercial League last year and have posted decent statistics thus far this year. Eugene Pitt is another new face in the Warwick line-up and will probably open the attack with skipper Hoyt Zuill.

Others who may play more than a `bit' part in the proceedings include bowlers Mark Tucker and Travis Morgan as well as frontline batsmen Peter Lee and Mark Tucker.

"We're doing a lot better than last year,'' said Zuill, enjoying his first year leading the team. "We've been able to bowl teams out whereas last year we had trouble getting sides out for under 200.

"Also we have made a couple of changes to strengthen our batting.'' Indeed Rangers ran up a mammoth first innings total of 331 in the aforementioned match with opener Keith Wainwright posting 83, while Warwick could only manage scores of 185 and 75 in the first and second innings respectively.

And coming off a seven wicket defeat at the hands of St. David's in last Sunday's Benson and Hedges Champion of Champions final Rangers are anxious to get back on the winning track and an inexperienced Warwick may be just the tonic for a `quick fix'.

"We try not to let any team come into out back yard and beat us,'' were the words of Southampton player/coach Clevie Wade. "My boys are confident, but not overconfident.

"Everybody wants to beat the champions. And we have to have the will to win and retain the cup.'' If they are to emerge unscathed Rangers will have to do so without youngster Kwame Tucker, who is away on tour with the Somerset Bantams soccer team. Early order batsman Olin Jones is also doubtful for Saturday having sustained a hamstring pull.

But Rangers have depth with Lindon Raynor due to step into the starting lineup. And with established batsmen like Wade, Wainwright, Ricky Brangman and Stevie Lightbourne, Warwick will definitely have their hands full.

Gary Williams and Quinton Burch look like opening the bowling when it comes time for Rangers to take the field, but Wade is most concerned with them being able to combine all aspects of the game.

"Said Wade "I feel that we have to put all three points together.

"We've either been bowling well, batting well or fielding well, but to produce the goods we have to put all three together.'' Cable and Wireless suffered only their second loss in the Evening Cricket League in five years earlier this week when Mariners beat them by two wickets at Shelly Bay Field.

Ironically it was Mariners who inflicted the last defeat on Cable and Wireless. This time they won with one ball to spare in the final over, replying to Cable and Wireless' total of 118-2 from 16 eight ball overs with 119-8.

Cal Smith led the Cable and Wireless batting with 45 not out while Frank Morgan scored 37, Hugh Hollis 20 and Cal Dill seven not out. J.Sykes took one for 27 and D.Foster one for 16.

D.Soares scored 29, T.Carruthers 22 not out and E.Godwin 21 as Mariners squeezed out an exciting victory. They needed 24 runs off the last two overs and in the second last over Dill conceded 18 runs. Smith also led the Cable and Wireless bowling with four for 32 while Kim Pitt took two for 19 and Dill two for 39.

RUN-MAKER -- Southampton Rangers' Keith Wainwright scored 83 agianst Warwick in last year's final.