today's second round Eastern Counties match with St. David's at Lords.

Former captain Millard Bean, now back with Hamilton Parish, has been called up to boost their batting, probably as an opening batsman alongside Troy Dean, while Gary Brangman and Dwayne Leverock are seen as key men with both the bat and ball if Flatts are to succeed in ending St. David's dominance in this competition.

"We know we have to bowl them out,'' acknowledges captain Rodney Woolridge.

"The game is going to be won on the field and we can't afford to put down chances and give guys `second' hits.'' Brangman, the Western Stars captain will lead the Flatts bowling, most likely sharing the new ball with colt Floyd Smith, who has been rewarded for his loyalty to Flatts this season. Another club player, James Bean, who been steady with the bat and is rewarded with his first county appearance.

On paper, Flatts appear to have more variety to their bowling than Bailey's Bay in the last round. After Brangman and Smith there is still the medium pace of Brandon Woolridge, Troy Dean and Derek Wright and the spin of Mackie Woolridge, Leverock and the captain himself.

I'm not looking for any bowler in particular to get wickets,'' says Woolridge who recognises the tough job of getting through the St. David's batting. The champions' batting has been strengthened even more by a batsman, Anthony Foggo, coming in for pace bowler Dale Fox who is injured.

"Their batting may run deep but on form there's only two or three guys,'' Woolridge says. "Their top three are their main strengths and if we get into their top three early we stand a good chance. "We may only score 89 but it is up to us to defend that 89 to the best of our ability.'' Spinner Mackie Woolridge is the most experienced player in the Flatts team and is also one of their most in form bowlers having taken five-for-61 and six-for-68 in successive open league matches against Police and Somerset recently. He has taken 21 wickets for the season at 15.61 each.

Flatts team: Rodney Woolridge (capt), Troy Dean, Mackie Woolridge, Brandon Woolridge, Derek Wright, Millard Bean, Gary Brangman, Antoine Greene, Floyd Smith (colt), James Bean (colt), Dwayne Leverock. Res: Shawn Woolridge, Troy Bean.

Open League cricket returns this weekend with unbeaten leaders Western Stars travelling to meet Southampton Rangers in the day's top match.

Stars, who lost to Rangers two weeks ago in the limited overs competition, can't afford to take fifth placed Southampton lightly. Rangers lead second placed Willow Cuts by seven points while Rangers are just off the pace in fifth spot.

Cuts are home to last placed Warwick and any slip up by the leaders could see them back in the top spot tomorrow evening.

Third and fourth placed Bailey's Bay and Nationals meet at Nationals in another interesting match. Bay are still unbeaten while Nationals have only lost once in the open league.

However, Nationals have been missing key players of late and there must be some doubts over their ability to maintain their lofty position without the likes of captain Darrin Lewis, who has returned to school, and bowler Bruce Perinchief. They have also been without wicketkeeper Winston Simmons for their last six open and limited overs matches.

Schedule: Willow Cuts v Warwick (Somerset); Social Club v Somerset St.

John's); Cleveland v Somerset Bridge (Sea Breeze Oval); Ham. Parish v St.

George's (Wellington Oval); Nationals v Bailey's Bay (Nationals); St. David's v Flatts (St. David's); Southampton v Western Stars (Southampton Oval).

Devonshire's match with Police has been postponed because Devonshire will be leaving today for a two-week tour of England.

BOWLING IN -- Brandon Woolridge.

SPIN KING -- Mackie Woolridge.