most neglected positions of openers in both the batting and bowling.

The injury of captain Wendell Smith and the loss of interest shown by Dale Fox means that at least two changes will be forced on the champions. The uncertainty lies in who will fill them.

Smith's absence means that the selectors will seek two openers, with Dexter Smith, who joined the league team this season to improve his Cup Match chances, the leading candidate for one place. The other will likely come from within the team, either between Clay Smith or Arnold Manders -- or both -- being asked to do the job they have done in the past.

At a time when there are so few genuine fast bowlers around, St. George's will be disappointed with the loss of St. David's speedster Fox who has had a tormenting season with injury and the chucking controversy which came to a head in the Benson and Hedges final where he had an altercation with umpire George Trott over his disputed run out which gave Western Stars victory.

Fox, who has not played since that match, declined the invitation to train with St. George's this week and has been left out for Saturday's final trial.

"He wasn't discarded by St. George's,'' St. George's selection chairman Gregory Foggo made clear yesterday.

"He told me on Saturday he wasn't going to worry about it (Cup Match). I told him to come to training but he didn't.'' Foggo, who made it clear he wasn't speaking on behalf of the club but was expressing his own opinion, said the country has done the talented fast bowler an injustice since he was called for throwing during Bermuda's tour of Barbados earlier this year.

"I feel Bermuda gave Dale a rotten deal,'' said the former St. George's Cup Match captain. "Bermuda as a whole has done him an injustice, with the BCBC the main culprits.

"Bermuda took him to Barbados after he sacrificed his football with St.

David's and then discarded him. He is the only genuine pacer in Bermuda but instead of working with him have put him on the back burner.

"We don't have a genuine quick bowler to take his place. The only other one is Kyle Lightbourne and he isn't playing.'' St. George's have been known to carry just one specialist opening batsmen and one genuine fast bowler in the past. Indications are they will do the same again this year.

Foggo refused to be drawn into the possible makeup of the St. George's team for next week's classic. But the whispers around the club suggest that senior players Noel Gibbons, Arnold Manders and Clevie Wade are facing the axe as the club shifts its focus to developing promising youngsters like Lionel Cann and Glenn Smith.

Cann of St. David's, the island's best young allrounder, looks certain to make his Cup Match debut while Smith is seeking a recall to the team after being dropped last year.

But it is on the topic of the more senior players that much of the interest has been centred with one from Gibbons, Manders and Wade likely to be dropped to make room for Cann who is seen as a long term investment.

Two were widely tipped to go but Smith's absence has apparently made the selectors reluctant to discard with too much experience at once.

All three have struggled this season though Gibbons, who has been ever-present in the team since 1971, has shown signs of coming into form with the bat lately. His bowling is still of value and could possibly open the bowling with Kenny Phillips.

Wade, who won back the Cup for St. George's in 1983, is fearing the worst after another mediocre season while Manders' chances of staying may have improved since the withdrawal of his captain. Manders has opened the innings with Smith before and could be an option for one of the opening bat positions again.

If rebuilding is the plan then age could work against Dexter Smith, 32, though being a specialist opener should be in his favour. It would appear there are seven secure places, Graham Fox, who is the obvious choice as captain, Charlie Marshall, David Adams, Clay Smith, Cann, Kenny Phillips and wicketkeeper Dean Minors.

Good performances in the last trial have been known to sway selection and for that reason the likes of allrounder Ricky Hodsoll, Glenn Smith, Eugene Foggo and Dexter Smith are still very much in the running.

The dark horses would appear to be Gary Brangman, a strong candidate a couple of years ago, Herbie Bascome and Greg Foggo, Jr.

In the past the makeup of the President's team would have shed some light on the selectors' thinking but these days the idea is to make the teams as balanced as possible.

CLEVIE WADE -- Pressure is on the former St. George's captain to perform on Saturday in the final trial.