Cup Match champions St.George's Cricket Club will jump start the defence of their crown when they stage their first trial match at Wellington Oval tomorrow.

On paper the St.George's selectors have assembled some of the best talent available but will be without stalwarts Clay Smith and Charlie Marshall, pacer George O'Brien Jr and club skipper Oronde Bascome for tomorrow's trial.

As player/coach of Young Men's Social Club, Marshall, Cup Match's all-time highest run getter, will be involved in tomorrow's Central Counties clash between his club team and challengers Police at Devonshire Rec. Smith, O'Brien and Bascome are out through overseas commitments with the senior national squad that departed for Toronto earlier this week.

Lewis Foggo, chairman of St.George's Cup Match selectors, reckons the unavailability of some of his team's key players will provide others with an ideal chance to stake a claim in the East Ender's Cup Match team this year. And he has encouraged those who have been chosen to fill the voids to grasp the opportunity with both hands.

"Because we do have a few big name players missing this weekend this definitely gives other players an opportunity to play," Lewis said.

"This is also a good opportunity for the selectors because some of our senior players will be bowing out of Cup Match at some point in time and so we have to begin looking at others."

Teams: Captain's XI ¿ Lionel Cann (capt), Jason Anderson, Justin Pitcher, Tre Govia, Aaron Adams, Stephen Douglas Jr, Reid Trott, Regino Smith, Jim West, Ryan Sheppard, Charles Richardson, Jason Simons, Terryn Fray, David Adams, Shea Pitcher Jr, Machai Campbell.

Vice-Captain's XI ¿ Glenn Blakeney (capt), Fiqre Crockwell, Troy Hall, Machai Simmons, Arthur Pitcher Jr, Landro Minors, Gershon Gibbons, Jade Foggo, Chris Douglas, Delyone Borden, Vernon Eve, Gregg Foggo, Ricardo Brangman Jr., David Debard, Phillip Burgess, David Lovell.

All players have been asked to report to the field by 9 a.m. for a 10 a.m. start.