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Final chance for Cup Match hopefuls

will get their last chance today to impress the selectors before this evening's team selections.Again the number of trials the teams have been able to fit into a busy schedule is fewer than they would have liked,

will get their last chance today to impress the selectors before this evening's team selections.

Again the number of trials the teams have been able to fit into a busy schedule is fewer than they would have liked, and as usual it will all come down to the last trial when dreams are either realised or shattered.

Challengers Somerset, the hosts this year, are likely to make the most changes, with five forced upon them due to suspensions to Corey Hill and more recently Richard Basden, the retirement of Andre Manders, injury to Kevin Hurdle and the absence of Roger Trott who hasn't been playing this season.

The east enders, who will have to find a replacement for Jason Lewis who has also sat out this season, will watch closely to see how Glenn Blakeney performs following a shoulder injury that has kept him out of action for several weeks. Spinners David Adams and Eugene Foggo have also been hit by injuries lately.

The interest will centre around who will come into the teams, with Janeiro Tucker, Del Hollis, Garry Williams, Irving Romaine, Kwame Tucker and Cordell Gilbert pressing strongly for places in Somerset's team.

Either Kwame Tucker or Gilbert will come in to replace wicketkeeper Trott while Williams of Southampton Rangers and Western Stars' Mark Trott are battling for fast bowling places. Janeiro Tucker looks a certainty to return to the team and spinner Del Hollis and Irving Romaine, a solid middle-order batsman, have a good chance of joining him.

The six players remaining from last year -- captain Dexter Basden, Albert Steede, Treadwell Gibbons, Dwayne Leverock, Hasan Durham and Kevin Fubler -- are all virtually certain to keep their places.

Champions St. George's have a possible seven `shoo-ins' in Clay Smith, Dean Minors, Arnold Manders, Lionel Cann, Herbie Bascome, Mark Ray and Gary Brangman, which would leave four places up for grabs.

Those battling for spots include batsmen Dexter Smith and Charlie Marshall who are bidding for recalls, seamer Clarkie Trott who was dropped last year, Cleon Scotland and Ricky Hodsoll. Both matches start at 10 a.m.

Also today is the first round of the Junior Eastern Counties between St.

David's and Flatts at Lord's.

Bailey's Bay and Police will play their make-up Premier Division Open League match tomorrow as both teams seek to move into contention for the title.

Victory for second-placed Police would lift them to within five points of leaders St. George's, with both teams having one game remaining.

Bay, the defending champions, are a further five points off the pace in fourth place and must win their last two games to have any chance of retaining their title. Bay play Willow Cuts in their final game while Police meet Southampton Rangers and St. George's take on Western Stars.

Cup Match players from the past will play their second `Cup Match' tomorrow at Wellington Oval starting at noon. The St. George's team will include the likes of Neville Darrell, Lionel Thomas, Sheldon Furbert, Rupert Scotland, Eldon Raynor, Lee Raynor, Elliott Pitcher, Vernon Foggo and Lloyd James while Somerset will be led by John Tucker, Gladstone Brown, Albert Donawa, Clyde Burgess, Barry DeCouto, El James, Gary Fray, Quinton Sherlock and Randy Horton.