Will the Camel Cup continue as the most `exclusive' competition in local cricket or will a new member be signed up this weekend? The tournament, which involves the top four teams in the Overs standings from the previous season, has been dominated by four clubs, both in terms of titles and appearances in the 11 finals so far.

But this weekend two other would-be members, Police and Willow Cuts, will be trying to gain entry when they take on St. George's and Western Stars in today's semi-finals at Somerset and Southampton Oval.

And while either Western Stars and St. George's are favoured to lift another title, both Police and Cuts will be hoping to become only the fifth club in the 12th playing of the competition to land the trophy.

St. George's, Bailey's Bay, Devonshire and Western Stars are the only teams to have won the cup. In fact, no other team has even reached the final since the tournament began as the Premier Cup in 1987! St. George's, Bay and Devonshire have all had three wins and Stars two, while St. George's, Bay and Stars have all reached six finals and Devonshire four.

Two scenarios are likely to unfold on Sunday...either a record fourth St.

George's win or a third triumph for Stars. Defending champions Bay, winners in three of the last four years, failed to qualify this year.

St. George's take on Police at Somerset while Western Stars meet Willow Cuts at Southampton Oval in today's semis.

Both St. George's and Police have psychological battles to overcome. The east enders must be wondering what it will take to win the cup again after losing the last three finals -- that after succcessive wins in 1988, '89 and '90 when they dominated the competition.

"Psychologically we are looking to get over that hurdle,'' St. George's captain Clay Smith stated yesterday.

"In the last two years we have fallen short in the Camel Cup and the league and we're just looking for that extra effort to get us over that hump.

"At one stage we were without a doubt the best limited overs team on the Island.

"There was a period when we got a little complacent but we are still one of the top two, with Western Stars, when it comes to limited overs.

"As our record speaks we have still been in the finals for three years but we have just fallen short. Hopefully this year we will be able to turn it around.'' St. George's will be boosted by the return of Mark (Beaver) Ray and Gregg Foggo, but question marks hang over Clevie Wade and Lewis Foggo who are recovering from knee and back injuries. Only one is likely to play.

Wicketkeeper Dean Minors is not expected back from school until the first week in June while Jason Lewis will miss most of the season because of work commitments.

Police, too, have selection problems, with their ranks weakened by the departure of allrounders Roger Blades and Dwayne Leverock and the late transfer of big-hitting batsman Stevie Lightbourne back to Warwick.

Veteran allrounder Ferdinand Thorne and bowler Freston Hurdle are also likely to be missing this weekend, which leaves the likes of captain Dennis Archer and seasoned campaigners Tyrone Smith and Dave Greenidge to carry the load.

"We're not going to take Police for granted because you have people like Dennis Archer and Tyrone Smith who can single-handedly win a match,'' Smith stressed.

Police have lost in five Camel Cup semi-finals over the years so they will have extra determination to break that bad run.

Willow Cuts, who lost in last year's semi-final to St. George's, will have their hands full again against 1996 champions Western Stars who once again look to be solid in every department.

Hasan Durham, now back from school, has strengthed the top of the Stars batting as a replacement for the injured Treadwell Gibbons. Paceman Dale Fox could also be in the team this weekend while Cuts should have batsman Dwight Basden in action for the first time.

The winners of the two 50 over matches will meet in tomorrow's final at St.

David's, which also starts at noon.

Cup history -- see Scoreboard.

East End Primary beat St. David's by one run in a schools match yesterday at Wellington Oval. East End were restricted to 49-3 in their 15 overs and then reduced St. David's to 48-4 when St. David's needed four to win off the last over.