succeeded in restoring harmony in their camp after morale noticeably dropped in the wake of last week's dues controversy.

And by game time tomorrow the champions believe they will be in the right frame of mind to tackle the task ahead.

Captain Graham Fox was yesterday trying not to dwell on the issue, though talk around the club has been about little else since four changes were confirmed to the team on Saturday night.

"I see it as being unfortunate,'' said Fox, who will captain the team for the third straight year.

"In my opinion it should never have reached the stage that it did. But these guys are all experienced cricketers and once we have a talk we will put it behind us and get on with the job we have to do, which is to try and emulate last year's performance.

"I tend not to dwell on things like that. I've reached the stage where I have to focus on captaining the team to the best of my ability and encouraging the players to produce their best cricket. As far as I'm concerned the issue is over with and I won't be thinking about it too much more.'' The absence of Arnold Manders, Dean Minors and Clarkie Trott has weakened the team somewhat, with one of the replacements, Glenn Smith, being asked to do two jobs -- front line batsman and keep wicket.

However, there was a possibility last night that a specialist wicketkeeper might be included after all following an injury suffered by Eugene Foggo.

League team wicketkeeper Lewis Foggo, named as reserve, would be the obvious replacement.

If Eugene Foggo is cleared to play then how well Smith -- only an occasional wicketkeeper -- stands up to the spin of David Adams and Foggo could be crucial as he is unfamiliar with both bowlers, whose styles are different. The wickets at Wellington Oval have favoured spinners over the years and the more the wicket turns the more difficult Smith's job could be.

It's in the batting department where he will be the biggest threat, having had an outstanding season in England where he has been playing this summer.

The stylish left-hander sealed his recall to the team after a four-year absence with a century in Saturday's final trial when he opened the innings.

No doubt he will be anxious to make amends for a first-ball duck in his debut in 1991 in the only innings he batted.

Smith is expected to bat as high as number four, but in a team so strong in batting the only sure positions are openers Wendell Smith and Dexter Smith.

Even Clay Smith, who usually bats at number three, might not occupy that spot as he is struggling to regain form.

"We really have a strong batting side, very deep, and Glenn at the moment is playing brilliant cricket,'' said Fox.

"I would like to think he can produce his best in Cup Match and show the public the ability that he has. The way he is batting I would like to get him in as early as possible. There is a possibility he could bat at three.'' As well as Clay Smith, Charlie Marshall, Clevie Wade and the captain himself, there is strong batting right through to eight or nine where Lionel Cann and Eugene Foggo will bat. The other two players who were involved in the dues controversy, Cann and Dale Fox, will share the new ball, with Wade and even Marshall being the seamers. If need be, Clay Smith can add further variety to the slow bowling.

"I'm unsure of what to do,'' said the captain, when asked of his decision if he won the toss. "The last time Cup Match was down here we thought the wicket would turn but on the first day it turned and on the second day it dried out and was a batsman's paradise. So I can't be sure what to really expect.'' All the current Cup Match players were either too young to remember or were not even born the last time St. George's won at Wellington Oval -- 26 years ago in 1969. That is something Fox is determined to change.

"I've never seen St. George's win down here in my life and all the people at the club have been talking about it in the last few years,'' said Fox. "The players are aware of it and we would definitely like to give the St. George's people a victory on our home field. As a team we always feel we're good enough to win and we always try to play positive cricket to produce a result as last year proved.

"The main thing I'm concerned about is trying to give the people exciting cricket like last year so that they will stop talking about Cup Match being boring.''