Champions St. George's are in a more enviable position, having to decide who to leave out.

With just over two weeks to go before the Cup Match Classic, and even less than that before the two representative teams are selected, much of the cricket discussion is being dominated by the potential make-up of the two teams.

As challengers, Somerset have the more difficult task of picking a team to defeat the stronger and more experienced St. George's team on August 3 and 4 at Wellington Oval.

The latest setback for them is the news that wicketkeeper Anthony (Porky) Manders has made himself unavailable. Manders, who made his debut two years ago, confirmed yesterday that personal commitments have forced him to withdraw from contention, a message he conveyed to captain Dexter Basden on the weekend.

His absence will open the way for the return of either Ricky Hill -- surprisingly dropped last year along with former captain Andre Manders -- or Roger Trott as wicketkeeper.

Other options could include Willow Cuts wicketkeepers Gladwin Edness, who played behind the stumps in 1987, and Andre Hendrickson or even Albert Steede who is presently on the team and one of the certainties for selection, having scored over 900 runs already this season.

Also fitting into the category of certainties are Dexter Basden, who looks sure to return as captain despite losing on his debut as skipper last year, and Olin Jones, Jeff Richardson, Richard Basden and Roger Blades.

Shannon Warner is the best bet among those pushing for places from the Somerset league team, confirming his return to fitness following an injury with six for 27 against Southampton Rangers on Sunday.

Reid Jones, the league team's wicketkeeper, has been steady with the bat and could also emerge as a surprise contender.

It is in the bowling department where Somerset have their biggest problem, trying to choose the right players to penetrate the St. George's batting.

Perry Maybury, who has played little for his new club, PHC, looks likely to lose his place, though he was the most experienced bowler last year in an attack that included debutants Roger Blades, Del Hollis and Hasan Durham.

Other bowlers pushing for places are Corey Hill, Allan Brangman and Quinton Burch from Bailey's Bay, Western Stars and Southampton Rangers while Somerset league pair Chris Caisey and Steven Brown cannot be ruled out.

The club have had few opportunities to assess their players, with the latest of their scheduled trial matches on Saturday not going ahead because of a shortage of players. At least five players who would have taken part in the trial were involved in the Central Counties final between Western Stars and Police.

St. George's have been more fortunate in scheduling trial matches, having had outings against the Bermuda youth team, the Australians, Conway Cricket Club and Bailey's Bay.

Their biggest concern is the fast bowling department where Kenny Phillip is out, having not played all season. Last season he shared the new ball with Clarkie Trott and this year Trott's new ball partner will likely be St.

David's speedster Dale Fox.

Uncertainty surrounds a few players, though it looks a sure bet that Wendell Smith will return after a two-year absence to open the innings with Dexter Smith. Charlie Marshall has been in outstanding form in the few matches he has played since coming off suspension while spinner David Adams looks certain to return, probably at the expense of Eugene Foggo.

There is talk, too, that Arnold Manders' place in the team could be under threat. Now that Noel Gibbons is no longer playing, Manders is the oldest member of the team and his experience, plus the fact that he could be used as the second spinner, could work in his favour.

The competition for places will heat up with the return from overseas of the four players playing in England, Glenn Smith, Gregg Foggo, Dean Minors and Clay Smith. Glenn Smith and Foggo are already here, both having arrived on Sunday, while Clay Smith will return tooday and Minors next week.

Wicketkeeper Lewis Foggo would have been the obvious choice had Minors decided to stay in England, but his nephew Gregg could still be the family representative in the Classic.

Foggo, with his sights on one of the bowling spots, is nursing an injury to his bowling arm but is hoping to be fit for the final trial match on July 29.

He pulled the ligaments in his shoulder about a week and a half ago while running between the wicket and decided to return home a week early to have the injury checked.

Foggo is the only one of the four not to have played in Cup Match and with his game improving tremendously since he joined Tynedale with Minors, he feels he has a very good chance of getting selected.

"Since I've been in England my cricket is at a much higher lever than when I left,'' said Foggo who plans to return to England on August 8. Sometimes his team plays as many as four games in a week.

"We play more cricket in half a season than Bermuda plays in two seasons,'' said Foggo.