look to start on the road to a third straight appearance in the Knockout Cup final.

Cleveland reached the last two finals, losing in 1996 to St. George's and last year to Bailey's Bay.

Injuries and unavailability have robbed St. George's of some key bowlers for today's match at Wellington Oval, so Cleveland will be confident of pulling off victory against their in-form opponents who will have to dig deep into their reserves.

The east enders have been hit by injuries to opening bowler Gregg Foggo and spinner Eugene Foggo, both of whom suffered hamstring pulls last weekend.

Another bowler, vice-captain Herbie Bascome, is unavailable because he is attending a wedding.

A total of seven first round matches are scheduled, with Willow Cuts playing Western Counties rivals Southampton Rangers and Eastern Counties teams Police and Devonshire Rec. squaring off in two of the other top games.

Cuts, Police and Western Stars all lost last weekend in the Camel Cup but Stars have the easier of first round ties, at home to First Division Somerset.

Other teams that should advance to the quarter-finals on June 13 when champions Bailey's Bay go into the draw, are Flatts, St. David's and Warwick from the First Division.

Flatts meet PHC at Devonshire Rec., St. David's entertain Somerset Bridge at Lord's and Warwick play Social Club at Southampton Oval.

The Overs League begins tomorrow when St. George's are at home to champions Western Stars in a repeat of last weekend's Camel Cup final.

Stars will be determined to improve on that performance last Sunday when they were restricted to 159 off 45 overs. They made St. George's go right down to the final over before the target was reached with only three balls remaining.

And it could be that close again.

Devonshire Rec. welcome St. David's to the Den while Willow Cuts travel to Sea Breeze Oval to meet Bailey's Bay and Warwick play Police, with former Police batsman Stevie Lightbourne expected to turn out against his former team at Southampton Oval.

In the First Division, three matches are scheduled. Social Club meet Cleveland at Nationals, PHC take on Southampton Rangers and Somerset Bridge play Flatts at White Hill.

Veteran cricketer Noel Gibbons was heading off to Dubai last night to continue what he described as a "highly enjoyable'' tour of the Middle East.

The Bailey's Bay allrounder is currently skippering a World Select XI on a two month trip through the United Arab Emirates and South Africa.

"So far it's been just fantastic,'' said Gibbons from his Sharjah hotel last night. "We've been looked after very well, and we've played some very good games.'' Of seven matches in Sharjah, Gibbons led his side to five victories and two losses, compiling two half centuries on the way.

His World Select won all four limited overs matches against the UAE -- many of whose players played against Bermuda in the last ICC Trophy tournament -- and another against the UAE's under-23 side. But they were beaten by a national under-25 team and Sharjah's league champions, Kokinos CC.

Three more matches are planned in Dubai before the tourists head for East London in South Africa where another three games are scheduled.

"We'll be playing in a township near East London, and then later in Soweto,'' said Gibbons. "All the games in South Africa will be for charity, to raise funds children's cancer and AIDS.''