Southampton Rangers skipper Janeiro Tucker is confident business will go on as usual in his absence.

Tucker has handed over the captaincy to cousin Kwame Tucker who now has the task of keeping the Premier Division club?s unbeaten record intact.

Rangers trio Dwayne (Sluggo) Leverock, Lionel Cann and Tucker are all due to travel with the Island?s ICC Trophy squad on Sunday and as such will not feature in this weekend?s two-day league fixture against Bailey?s Bay at the Oval.

Not only has Tucker encouraged his charges to ?step up their game? in his absence, he has also urged budding allrounders Malachi Jones and Ramen Wijerwardena to make the most of their chance and prove they have got what it takes to roll with the big guns.

?It?s time for them to show they are capable of doing the job as well,? said the skipper. ?They need to step up their game and show that they are good young players and it would be nice if they can make an impact on the team while we are off Island.?

In addition to this weekend?s two-day clash with rivals Bay, the Rangers trio will also miss next weekend?s crucial Western Counties first round match with champions Warwick, the limited overs game against Cleveland, and possibly next month?s Western Counties second round fixture with PHC should Southampton dethrone the competition?s current holders in the opening round.

Still, Tucker has faith in his team-mates.

?I think we have enough experience and youth in the team to overcome the challenge,? he added. ?But again our guys will have to pick up their game and work together and hopefully things go in our favour. Hopefully we can get past Warwick and the second round if possible.?

So far, Tucker noted, Rangers season had gone according to the script. The Premier Division powerhouses remain undefeated in league play and KO competition and only last month clinched a second Belco Cup title in three seasons.

?This is what we planned when the season began. Our plan was to win all of our limited overs matches and then whatever else was out there. And right now I think we are in a good position and have played some very good cricket,? Tucker added.

?We have showed up in every game we have played and have proven to be the team who wants it the most. So I am confident we will be alright as long as we continue to do the things we have been doing all season and playing the cricket we have been playing.?

Tucker is also confident Rangers can lift a third limited overs title in six seasons.

?There?s no reason why we cannot be win the league,? he said. ?That has always been our main focus although we also look to do well in the Two-Day League.

?But again it?s just a matter of how the guys play while we are off the Island. I?m confident the guys will get on with the job. Clevie (Rangers coach Clevie Wade) has been doing a great job with the players. Everybody listens to his advice and he is leading the guys in the right direction.?

Tucker also hopes seasoned warriors such as Curtis Jackson, Stevie Lightbourne, Keith Wainwright and Olin Jones can continue their steady ascent to peak form ? along with stand-in skipper Kwame Tucker who has struggled so far with the bat.