Cup-holders Warwick have been forced to make two changes to their team for the Western Counties third round against Willow Cuts today at White Hill Field (11am).

Teenaged pace bowler Luke Fulton and all-rounder Robert Richardson helped Warwick dethrone Somerset Bridge in the previous round, but will miss today’s clash as they are both off island.

“Luke Fulton is off island, which is a big blow for us because he’s just come off a good Cup Match [as a St George’s colt],” Warwick coach Lorenzo Tucker told The Royal Gazette.

“He bowled great and is one of the premier pace bowlers in the island already at age 17, so he is going to be a major miss and Robert Richardson is off island as well.

“Robert is actually one of my senior guys that keeps everybody grounded and that leadership is going to be missed as well.

“But nevertheless we are going to put our best foot forward out there. We’ve still got Delray Rawlins returning with Tre Manders and Zeri Tomlinson, who is a really good young player.

“Luke Horan, of course, had a fantastic Cup Match as reserve [for St George’s] and has grown from strength to strength, so we have guys that can get the job done along with the skipper, Stephan Dill, and my T20 skipper, Cory Burgess.

“We have a good team and it should be a great match because Willow Cuts are a strong team and have a team full of match-winners.”

Oxford Cricket Club and former St George’s Cup Match seamer Jamar Stovel has come in to replace Fulton while Bermuda Under-19 wicketkeeper Omari DeShields, who was a reserve in the previous round, has been brought in as cover for Richardson.

As for the opposition, Tucker is not taking anything for granted despite their struggles on the way to being relegated from the Premier Division 50 overs league this season.

“You can’t really go by what’s been done in the league because county brings out the best in all those Western Counties teams,” he said. “We are looking for a hard-fought match; it should be a close, exciting finish.”

“The cup does tend to change hands in this tournament and we are hoping we can stop that streak. They beat us last year, so we are hoping to stop that streak and get into the final so that we can end the season with the trophy. That’s our goal.

“We are looking for a tough game against Cuts but I think we are prepared enough to bring it home.”

Cuts coach Dexter Basden could not be reached.

Meanwhile, this season’s 50 overs competition concludes tomorrow.

Premier Division champions-elect St George’s have a bye while the remaining matches see Cleveland pitted against Bailey’s Bay at Wellington Oval, Western Stars taking on Willow Cuts at Sea Breeze Oval, and Somerset hosting St David’s at Somerset Cricket Club.

Promoted champions Warwick have a bye in the final round of the First Division, which will see Southampton Rangers do battle with PHC at Southampton Oval, while Somerset Bridge host Devonshire Rec at White Hill Field in the only two second-tier matches scheduled.

All 50-overs league matches start at 10.30am.