Central Counties champions Devonshire Rec will look fend off Western Stars today when the two teams lock horns at St John’s Field in the opening round of the competition.The champions beat Stars last year in the only round of the competition played, and the challengers will be looking to exact revenge.There won’t be a better time to take on the Premier Division side who are trying to recover from the departure of player/coach Ricardo Brangman.Director of cricket at Stars, Gershon Gibbons, said he hoped his young troops would rise to the occasion.“It is a County game and we have a young team so it will be a good gauge of our ability, especially given that Devonshire are a Premier side . . . we can see how far we have come along,” said Gibbons.“The core of the side is under 23 and have been together for the past few years. The likes of Tre Manders, Seth and Swayne Campbell, and Ray Butterfield, have shown they can play and we just want to make a good account of ourselves.”While the Counties Cup is one of the main objectives for the club, their chief target is to earn promotion and look to return to the glory of past years.The winners of today’s match will meet Young Men’s Social Club in the final round next month.Gibbons is hoping the rain that has fallen on the Island during the week won’t be a key factor in his side’s performance.“The rain has affected us this week and our training has been limited but for the most part we are ready to go and see what we can do.“We want to put our best foot forward in this match, and a win would not only boost our morale but also show that we can play with the big boys.”The match begins at 11am.Today will also see First Division action with St George’s clashing with Warwick at Wellington Oval, and in the West, Somerset take on Somerset Bridge at White Hill Field.Meanwhile, tomorrow will see the first round of the KO Cup with six matches on tap.Southampton Rangers welcome Willow Cuts while St George’s clash with Warwick at Wellington Oval.Western Stars play Somerset Bridge at St John’s Field, PHC entertain Flatts at PHC Field and Young Men’s Social Club travel to Somerset.Cleveland and Devonshire Rec. do battle at Devonshire Rec.Belco Cup champions Bailey’s Bay and beaten finalists St David’s have both received first round byes.All games start at 11am.