Southampton Rangers and PHC kick off the county season today when they clash in the first round of the Western Counties competition at Southampton Oval.

It is the first time the two teams have met since PHC's shock Belco Cup final win at Lord's at the beginning of May, and for Rangers it is the first game in a double-header weekend that could go a long way to deciding the success of their year.

After facing PHC, they then host St David's in the Premier Division tomorrow, and as the only unbeaten side left in the league, Rangers know a win over the Islanders would cement them as favourites to take the title midway through the competition.

First though there is the small matter of the County match, and the chance for Rangers to make a point about the loss in May that still rankles within the team. Especially as they still believe they should have won the game.

"It's a busy weekend for us, with St David's and then PHC, who we have some unfinished business with," said Rangers and Bermuda batsman Shannon Rayner. "That's a nice little rivalry for us, we've got a little pay back for them from Belco.

"We might have won that game, but cricket is a funny sport and anything happens on any given day. It is going to be a tough game, and I know they are going to bring their A-game because they like playing against us.

"That game on Sunday is a big game as well, we'll be undefeated if we win and it'll put everybody well behind us. I think that would be St David's' third loss, and so would give us breathing room if we did then lose a game, becasue everyone else is losing two and three games."

It's not just the County match that is at stake for Rayner today, there's also national team bragging rights, with Bermuda team-mate and friend Kevin Tucker playing for PHC. Rayner, though, is feeling pretty good about his game, and the form Rangers are in.

"Kevin's my mate, he's a good bowler, and I know he's going to bring it because he likes that competition too. We're going to bring our game, so we can have the bragging rights," said Rayner.

"I'm feeling good, getting into the cricket, training hard and just doing what I've got to do. At Rangers we have a good batting team as well, we have two real good openers (Dion Stovell and Gerald Simons) and they normally put up a good total early in the innings which means all we have to do is close it out.

"It takes a little bit of pressure off of me. I can go out and go for it early if I have to, but since they normally take it off to a fast start I don't really have to force nothing.

"One thing about Rangers, Rangers is a good team, there is that good morale and everybody is cool with each other. We don't have that arguing like a lot of other teams, our goal is to win the game and to have fun."

While Rangers are looking to extend their lead at the top of the Premier Division tomorrow, second-placed Bailey's Bay will be hoping to get back to winning ways as they host Somerset at Sea Breeze Oval. In the day's other game PHC will face Devonshire Rec at Wellington Oval.

In the First Division Social Club take on Somerset Bridge, Warwick face Cleveland, and Flatts take on St George's.

n In Wednesday's report about the latest round of suspensions in cricket, it was suggested that Willow Cuts player Chris Douglas was one of three players from the club serving a domestic ban. That is not the case. He is in fact just suspended from representing the national team for the whole of the upcoming UAE series.