Defending Central Counties champions Western Stars will rest their title on the line today when they meet challengers Police in the first round of the 27 year-old competition at St.John?s Field.

Multiple winners Stars defeated Social Club by 74 runs in last year?s final, some 24 hours after dethroning champions Devonshire at St.John?s Field.

The competition?s current champions will begin the defence of their crown without the key trio of Saleem Mukuddem, Hasan Durham and Treadwell Gibbons jr ? all currently with the national squad in Guernsey ? against a Police side they know very little about.

Still, Stars coach Milford (Ju Ju) Waldron is guardedly optimistic his charges will pull through.

?All I can ask of my team is to go out there and do their best . . . that?s all I can ask,? Waldron told

?Obviously we are missing players through national team duty and I think whoever wants it the most on the day will eventually prevail.

?I?m not going to make any bold predictions, but this match could turn out to be a a real toss up.?

Due to a busy domestic and international cricket schedule over the past two summers, the Central Counties has had to adopt an abbreviated format which saw the entire competition staged, and title decided, in one weekend.

However, the competition has now reverted to its former three-round format, starting with today?s opening round clash at the Barn.

Meanwhile, with the Two-Day League championship decided, attention now switches to limited overs cricket where newly crowned Two Day winners Southampton Rangers seek to gain possession of first place in the Premier Division from leaders St.David?s who have a bye tomorrow.

Rangers, the defending limited overs champions, are at home (Southampton Oval) to a Flatts side who battled to a draw against Cleveland in their previous outing at Wellington Oval with veteran batsman Phillip Burgess helping himself to a well-played century and player/coach Gary Brangman bagging four wickets.

Southampton will again be without national team members Janeiro Tucker and Dwayne (Sluggo) Leverock, while wicketkeeper/batsman Kwame Tucker remains sidelined through injury.

Elsewhere, Bailey?s Bay host struggling Somerset Cricket Club at Sea Breeze Oval in a match that could swing either way.

Bay are without national team trio Irving Romaine, Jim West and Ryan Steede. However, the East Enders proved last weekend that they can still raise their game to another level in their team-mates? absence by way of an innings and two run thrashing of Stars in their own back yard ? a result that condemned the latter to the First Division Two Day ranks next season.

Bay will again rely heavily upon the big bats of Cal (Patches) Dill ? scorer of a century against Stars ? youngster Terryn Fray and all-rounder Rodney (Picnic) Trott, while Burton Outerbridge, Kearon Trott and David Lovell are expected to again shoulder the team?s bowling.

Somerset skipper Reid Jones, meanwhile, will continue his bid for a spot on the challenger?s Cup Match team. Jones has been reasonably consistent with the bat so far, but has yet to capture the selectors? eye with a really big score.

The West Enders will also be looking for all-rounder Jacobi Robinson to come good with both bat and ball along with Azeem Pitcher ? recently omitted from the national team.

Somerset also have a potential match-winner in veteran all-rounder Wendell White.

This weekend?s remaining Premier Division clash sees Stars hosting winless Warwick at St.John?s Field.

In First Division play, PHC host St.George?s at White Hill Field, Cleveland take on Leg Trappers at Wellington Oval, Devonshire welcome Somerset Bridge to the Den and Willow Cuts host Police at Somerset Cricket.

Two limited overs make up matches have been scheduled for today ? First Division St.George?s host Willow Cuts at Wellington Oval while Premier Division Bay lock horns with Eastern Counties rivals St.David?s at Sea Breeze Oval in what will be a dress rehearsal for next month?s opening round Eastern Counties clash between the two fierce rivals.