With six trophies safely stashed in the cabinet after two consecutive years of spectacular on-field success, Southampton Rangers have undoubtedly usurped Western Stars as the dominant force in local cricket.

And the all-conquering boys from the West End will be looking to rub their rival?s noses in it yet further tomorrow at St. John?s Field, when the reigning Belco Cup, two-day and limited over Premier Division champions take on Justin Robinson?s mis-firing Stars side in the Knockout Cup.

Since the retirement of Arnold Manders, Albert Steede and Jermaine Postlethwaite ? not to mention the loss of Dwayne Leverock to Rangers a few seasons back ? Stars have been a shadow of their former selves.

This has not been helped, either, by the repeated absence of national team players Saleem Mukuddem, Hasan Durham and Jekon Edness ? leaving coach Milford (Ju Ju) Waldron to work with a collection of talented, but inexperienced youngsters.

Rangers, by contrast, have seen a nucleus of home-grown talent bolstered by the arrival of Leverock, Dion Stovell, Lionel Cann and others ? although coach Clevie Wade is quick to point out that most of the success has been achieved in the absence of the big names.

?For the majority of the season in fact we have not been able to call on the services of our internationals,? he said.

?So the fact that we have still managed to pick up three trophies and are now going for a fourth I think is a result of the guys on the fringes of the squad performing when required.

?There is a big hole left in our team when the likes of Leverock, Cann and Kwame Tucker are away, and the guys who have filled their shoes deserve a huge amount of credit.

?I?m very proud of all of them. The team is a very harmonious one ? the spirit among the players is first class and I have to say that they have all been very committed and worked extremely hard and I think that is reflected in our results.

?So we?ll be approaching this weekend like we have done every other ? by going out there to win and nothing else. There?s absolutely no danger of us taking our feet of the gas. We want to finish the season on a high and to win four trophies would be a fantastic effort from the guys.?

With the national team only scheduled to arrive back from their three-week-long tour of Canada tomorrow lunchtime, Rangers will again be without their phalanx of stars, while Wade also revealed that Stovell will be unavailable because he is travelling overseas.

Elsewhere, St. David?s take on Charlie Marshall?s Social Club in a mouth-watering clash at Lords, Warwick play Flatts at the Southampton Oval and Bailey?s Bay come up against Somerset at Sea Breeze Oval.

In the First Division Knockout Cup, Devonshire Rec. play Leg Trappers, PHC take on St. George?s, Police clash with Somerset Bridge and Cleveland take on Willow Cuts.

Meanwhile, Somerset Bridge play PHC in the Western Counties final today at White Hill Field, with the game scheduled to get underway at 10 a.m..

Bridge, who finished last in the limited overs First Division this season with only one win and 12 losses to their name, are surprise finalists having beaten the more-fancied Willow Cuts by two-wickets in a nail-biting encounter two weeks ago.

The Bermuda Cricket Board confirmed yesterday that every cup game has had an umpire appointed to it.

North Village, who hold a one-point lead over Forties going into tomorrow?s cliff-hanging finale to the league programme, need to halt Fine Leg Byes? five-matching winning streak if they are to retain their Commercial Cricket League title.

Venue for the match - one of three postponed from July 9 because of the World Cup final - is the Royal Naval Field in Somerset.

Forties have a far easier fixture on paper as they face Western Stars, whose only points came from a default by third-placed Hamilton Parish, at Shelly Bay.

Meanwhile, yesterday?s draw for the league?s knockout tournament starting on September 3 handed title holders Forties a first-round bye. Forties will meet the winners of Western Stars and Hamilton Parish in the semi-finals.

Western Stars v Hamilton Parish, Jamaican Association v North Village, West Indian Association v Fine Leg Byes. Bye: Forties.