AFTER surviving a first-round scare from what is usually their toughest match, Eastern Counties champions St. David's will be determined to produce an improved batting performance on Saturday against second-round challengers Flatts.

The Bailey's Bay fans were bracing themselves for a first-round upset last month after dismissing St. David's for 197 on a turning wicket. But Bay succumbed to poor shots against some tight St. David's bowling and fell well short of their target when St. David's dismissed them for just 119. Second-round challengers Flatts will be hoping for some luck of their own when they seek to end an almost 30-year wait for Eastern Counties success.

"We'll be looking to Sluggo (Dwayne Leverock), Regino Smith and Vernon Eve to do the chump of the bowling if the wicket is taking spin," said veteran batsman Phillip Burgess yesterday ahead of the team selection last night.

St. David's also finalised their team last night. Flatts faced a dilemma in trying to balance the team with senior players and some up and coming youngsters. "Our programme is a youth development programme since Dean (player-coach Dean Minors) took over so a lot of the senior players haven't been playing as much," Burgess explained. "We're trying to push a lot of youth but the kids are 14, 15, 16 and still a bit too young.

"We don't want to push them too early so we're looking at some experienced players to come in and step up. County is a big day game and we don't want to expose them too early if they are not ready."

Burgess, Lloyd Fray, Derek Wright, Rahji Edness and Vernon Eve, along with guest players Dwayne Leverock, Ryan Belboda and Nakia Smith were expected to form the backbone of the team as well as former club player Nelson Bascome who is now with Young Men's Social Club.

Kijuan Franks and Regino Smith, a colt last year, are two of the youngsters around whom the club is building their team.

"As a cup game we're looking to go down there and put our best foot forward and win the cup," Burgess assured, noting that it has been too long a wait for Eastern Counties success.

How they players would love to take a celebratory jump off Flatts Bridge!

No doubt St. David's will want to extend that wait for another year. Flatts may be considered the weaker of the three challengers, but St. David's captain Lionel Cann will be just as determined to hold onto the prized cup just as he was able to do with the Cup Match trophy two weeks ago.

The champions don't have Clay Smith ¿ who scored 64 against Flatts last year ¿ to call on but there is plenty of strength within the ranks of the St. David's league programme.

Add Warwick's Chris Douglas and Fiqre Crockwell of PHC to that mix and the Flatts challenge of bowling out St. David's for under 200 looks even more daunting.

"They are all tough games, especially Flatts and Cleveland who always put up a good fight," said Cann. "They will be after something they haven't had for 26 years so it will be tough.

"We're looking good, we have a lot of people to choose from and obviously people who play for the club will get first preference if they are in form. For people who play for St. David's and perform, County is their reward."

The St. David's selectors would have considered a recall for George O'Brien who did not play in the first round against Bailey's Bay.

In his absence Stefan Kelly led the seam attack with four for 41as Bay slumped from 46-2 to 68-5 and then from 114 for six to 119 all out.

Off spinners Del Hollis and Delyone Borden assisted with two wickets apiece.

"Stefan Kelly is in top form and plays for St. David's and Arthur Pitcher Jr is in good form too and getting a lot of wickets, so it is hard to pick everybody," said Cann.

Cann expects his batsmen to learn from the experience of the Bay match when they didn't apply themselves properly on a turning wicket.

"We just have to analyse the situation from early and bat accordingly," said the captain.

The winners of Saturday's second round will meet Cleveland in the August 30 final.