hoping to reclaim the Eastern Counties Cup.

But they might not have to be, as St. David's proved two years ago when they dethroned Bay with their league team.

In the 1997 final, the Islanders made the choice to ignore eligible guest players in favour of players in their league programme. The result was a shock four-wicket victory for St.David's.

Now Bay will be trying to win without five of their top players -- Ricky Hill, Glenn Blakeney, Damon Edwards, Cal Dill and Corey Hill -- all of whom have boycotted the club over the last couple of months after what they considered to be unfair selection practices.

The result has been a slump in form as Bay went from being unbeaten to losing four matches and their league title.

They have now stuck with the players who continued to rally to the club's cause and today three of them will be rewarded with their first Eastern Counties appearances.

Teenager Jim West, who has had to wait another year to be eligible to play in the counties, has been named as colt along with wicketkeeper Desmond Crockwell, who just returned from St. David's this season, and young club president Allan Walker. And with Bailey's Bay vice-president Charlie Marshall leading the team, it will be a rare occasion with the club having both its president and vice-president representing them in the Eastern Counties.

As predicted Noel Gibbons, just back from England, is in the team again for what will be his 30th anniversary as a counties player, having made his debut back in 1969. This, he says, will be his final appearance.

Bay will have to call on Gibbons' vast experience to beat a solid St. David's team. They will be determined not to make the same mistake of two weeks ago when Flatts ripped through their top order to have them 22-5 before youngsters Landro Minors and Sammy Robinson pulled them out of deep trouble with well timed half-centuries.

Bay's bowling looks stronger than their batting, which might prove crucial considering that in recent years when the cup has changed hands it has happened with the winning target being less than 200 runs. In the 1997 final St. David's only had to chase 156 for victory which they managed; while in the '93 final then champions St. David's, were dethroned after failing to score 169 for victory against Bay, falling 49 runs short.

And in one of the most exciting matches ever -- in yet another final between these two teams in 1987 -- challengers St. David's won by just one run after home team Bay scored 149 in reply to St. David's' total of 150.

If the lurking hurricane Cindy stays away, another exciting match could be in store, though right now the forecast is for some rain during the day as the hurricane nears.

St. David's have made just one change to their team from the Flatts match, dropping paceman Dale Fox and bringing in Rudell Pitcher to share the new ball with Herbie Bascome who is one of two guest players. And there is solid batting in the St. David's team right down to number nine.

In Gibbons and captain Marshall, Bay have the two highest scoring batsmen in the Eastern Counties -- Gibbons having scored 1,761 runs and also taking 94 wickets while Marshall has scored 1,361 runs. Ricky Hill is the other Bay player to have passed 1,000 runs in the competition, with 1,287. In the St.

David's team, Allen Richardson has 1,174 runs while Albert Steede (843) could soon join the 1,000 club.

Teams St. David's: Clay Smith, Sammy Robinson, Albert Steede, Allen Richardson, Chris Foggo, O.J.Pitcher, Landro Minors, Lionel Cann, Del Hollis, Herbie Bascome, Rudell Pitcher. Res: Delyone Borden, Fiqre Crockwell Bailey's Bay: Charlie Marshall, Clarkie Trott, Irving Romaine, Anthony Braithwaite, Dexter Basden, Jim West (colt), Desmond Crockwell (colt), Allan Walker (colt), Noel Gibbons, Dennis Pilgrim, Stephen Outerbridge. Res: Jermaine Outerbridge, David Lovell, Brandon Trott.

Southampton Rangers can wrap up their first league title since 1980 tomorrow when they host St. David's at Southampton Oval.

Rangers hold a five-point lead over Stars, the only team that can catch them in the title race.

However, after losing to Rangers in their meeting (which will be crucial in the case of a tie), Stars now need Rangers to lose their remaining matches against St. David's and then unpredictable Flatts next Sunday.

Stars are at home to Flatts, who climbed to sixth in the standings with their shock win over St. George's.

Tomorrow's other matches see Willow Cuts playing Somerset Bridge, St. George's hosting Cleveland at Wellington Oval, Devonshire Rec. taking on Flatts, Police playing Warwick and Social Club meeting Somerset at St. John's.