Southampton Rangers are preparing for possibly their biggest test in the Western Counties this season when they host Willow Cuts in today’s final at Southampton Oval.

Cuts were relegated from the 50 Overs League by a single point, but not before making things exciting at the bottom of the table with two victories over Rangers and a last-day victory over Bailey’s Bay.

Now they will be pumped up at the prospect of securing a third victory over the same opponents this season.

Rangers were missing some key players in last weekend’s opening match against St George’s in the Athene T20 Premier League, including the experienced Dion Stovell and player-coach Janeiro Tucker.

With the pair returning to the line-up, Tucker is adamant recent poor results against Cuts count for nothing.

“They beat us twice but we’re just looking to play our normal game,” said Tucker.

“That goes out of the equation, that they beat us twice, because the league is over.

“This is not a league game but a straight final, the league is done and dusted.”

The return of the Bermuda team from the ICC Cricket World Cup Challenge League B competition means that Charles Trott will also be available for selection for Rangers.

Likewise, Ras Solomon Burrows and Joseph Basden for Cuts in what should be an exciting final.

“I’ll play and Dion will be there but I don’t know the rest of the team,” Tucker added.

“We’ll finalise it tomorrow morning at the field.”

Cuts will also finalise their team today as they decide on availability of players. George O’Brien of St David’s will be one of their guest players, possibly also Chris Douglas of Somerset.

Dexter Basden, their coach, is confident his team can put in a good performance against the champions, but is not taking anything for granted despite two victories over their opponents already.

“It depends on how we feel; we’ve beaten Rangers twice so it’s not like we can’t beat them,” said the former Cuts captain.

“If on the day we show up to play we can handle our business, but we can’t take Rangers for granted because it is the county and a final.

“The last time they put 400 in us, so we’ll be hoping to redeem ourselves.”

It will be a busy weekend for both teams who are also in action tomorrow in the T20 League when Rangers play Warwick at PHC Field and Willow Cuts take on Somerset Bridge in a First Division match at Somerset Cricket Club.

In other Athene T20 League Premier Division matches this weekend, Western Stars take on Somerset at Somerset while Bailey’s Bay and, Cleveland, meet at Sea Breeze Oval.

In the First Division, St David’s go head-to-head with PHC at PHC Field, while Devonshire Rec face off against Flatts in the opening encounter at Sea Breeze Oval.