Just as Somerset Bridge have relied on their two guest players, Arnold Manders and Jeff Richardson for Western Counties success, finalists Warwick will lean heavily on Treadwell Gibbons of Western Stars and Willow Cuts' Alan Wilkinson at White Hill Field this weekend (11.00).

The performances by Cup Match batsman Gibbons and opening bowler Wilkinson will be the key as Warwick chase a trophy which has eluded them for a number of years.

Wilkinson, who left Warwick to play for Cuts this season, has played only a few games for his new club. However, with youngster Quinton Sherlock headed to school abroad, a gap was created for an opening bowler. Wilkinson, with a five wicket haul last year against Willow Cuts in 27 unchanged overs, was the obvious choice.

With a limit of only two guest players per team, Curtis Jackson of Cleveland missed out.

"We could have used even more (guests),'' joked new captain Ritchie Foggo who takes the helm in only his second year in the Western Counties, having made his debut last year.

Warwick have been hit by a player shortage this season, with just eight players turning out for their match last weekend against Flatts. They have also lost both meetings with Bridge this year, but Foggo is still optimistic about the team's chances. He expects the presence of Gibbons and Wilkinson to give the team a big boost in the three areas.

"I feel with Treaddy in the team, he will hopefully pick up everybody else. A couple of the players we have in the team I know Jeffrey and Arnold have never batted against. Hopefully that will give the advantage to us.'' Warwick have named four colts, wrist spinner Dudley Lightbourne, left-arm slow bowler Millard Rawlins, all-rounder Trent Simmons and medium pacer Quinton King.

"We've had meetings and I told them what I expect and what I wanted to do, how we can attack these guys. We have to be patient and not drop any catches,'' added Foggo.

"That's my main concern, our fielding, because our fielding this year has been deplorable.'' Warwick have also not batted particularly well in the Western Counties in the last few years. They have played in the first round in the last four years, losing by nine wickets to Southampton Rangers in 1992 after posting just 83 and then by five wickets to Rangers in '93 after being dismissed for 119.

Bridge dismissed Warwick for 94 in 1994 on their way to a five wicket triumph and last year, despite restricting Willow Cuts to 143-8 in 55 overs, Warwick could only manage 84 in reply. The last time Warwick appeared in the final, 1991, they were hammered by an innings and 70 runs by Rangers.

"I heard the statement by Bridge saying they were going to bowl us out twice in one day,'' said Foggo.

"All I can say is they can talk it off the field but we'll have to see what happens on the field.'' Bridge, whose match with Rangers in the last round was cut short by rain, have made one change, recalling Jamie Cann in place of Kenny Maybury.

Somerset Bridge: Corvett Lambert (capt), Brian Gibbons, Perry Maybury, Denzil Dill, Jeff Richardson, Francis Richardson, Arnold Manders, O'Neil Virgil, David Jones, Jamie Cann, Kenneth Simmons. Res: Jerome Smith, Eugene Johnston, Kenneth Maybury.

Warwick: Ritchie Foggo (capt), Daniel Caines, Jeffrey James, Daniel Morgan, Trent Simmons (colt), Dudley Lightbourne (colt), Quinton King (colt), Millard Rawlins (colt), Alan Wilkinson, Johnny Nusum, Treadwell Gibbons. Reserve: Frank Morgan. Scorer: Judy Minors.

TREADWELL GIBBONS -- the Western Stars batsman will be a key man for Warwick in this weekend's Western Counties final