put one of their two titles from last season on the line.

The first limited overs matches are scheduled for tomorrow when the first round of the Knockout Cup is played, with the Willow Cuts-St. George's clash at Royal Naval field getting top billing. All matches will now start at noon.

The Premier Division and knockout champions have already had a slow start in the league despite fielding the nucleus of the team that led them to honours last season.

Now they go against a strong Willow Cuts side without wicket-keeper Dean Minors and the player many consider to be the best limited overs batsman on the Island, Clay Smith.

Both players left the Island this week for England for amateur stints with different clubs in the Northumberland County League. The vacancies created by the Bermuda internationals will be hard to fill.

One of the replacements will be opening batsman Dexter Smith, who has returned from vacation, while youngster Jason Anderson, who saved the team from defeat against Warwick last weekend, will be given the wicket-keeping duties.

St. George's have also been hurt by the loss of Greg Foggo who suffered a hand injury at work just prior to the start of the season and has not yet played.

Vice-captain Ricky Hodsoll missed last weekend's shocker while recovering from minor surgery, but is expected to return against Cuts.

Willow Cuts should be at their strongest, having been bolstered by the signings of fast bowlers Garry Williams and Craig Brangman and batsmen Jermaine Warner, Dwight Basden and Davon Wade. The problem for them is who to leave out as they aappear to have depth in both batting and bowling. Cuts showed their batting potential in scoring 264 for five before declaring against St. David's in their opening match. Richard Basden was in early form, scoring 60 not out and then bowling economically with his seamers.

The remaining seven matches in the tie are easier to predict with Bailey's Bay, Western Stars, Police and Cleveland favoured to advance to the next round along with 1993 losing finalists Devonshire Rec. who have a bye because of an uneven number of teams -- 17 -- this season.

Bay, even without Noel Gibbons who departs today for a second spell as a professional in England, should be too strong for home team Nationals.

Bay beat Southampton Rangers by nine wickets last weekend despite having only 10 men as Charlie Marshall, who had been taking a break after the ICC Tournament, was forced into action a little earlier than planned.

Stars will no doubt welcome some limited overs practice to prepare for the defence of their Camel Cup title in two weeks' time. And they will also be hoping for a better batting surface than they one they had last weekend when Cleveland skittled them out for 38 at Sea Breeze Oval.

Tomorrow, Stars travel to Southampton Oval to take on a Warwick side who are being rebuilt under the guidance of veteran El James.

Rangers travel to nearby White Hill field to meet PHC, against whom they should be favoured despite last weekend's results, which saw Rangers lose and PHC shock Somerset.

Police also head westward for a meeting with Somerset who will be hoping to have all-rounder Perry Maybury back to lend his experience. Maybury missed last weekend's loss to PHC because of work commitments but Somerset will need him against a solid Police team.

The Cleveland-Hamilton Parish match has been switched from Sea Breeze Oval to Wellington Oval because of the funeral of the father of former Bay player Rupert (Nick) Hollis. In the other matches, Flatts take on Social Club at Devonshire Rec. and St. David's entertain Somerset Bridge at Lord's.

RICHARD BASDEN -- Looking solid in his knock of 94.