Champions St. David's, who made a clean sweep of league and cup honours last year, will start this season without their influential player/coach Clay Smith.

An injury picked up during the soccer season could keep the top batsman out of action until mid summer as he's scheduled to undergo surgery in June.

And the Islanders face even more problems with promising youngsters OJ Pitcher and Chris Foggo travelling to England to join the Pyrford Cricket Club next month, while their unpredictable but prolific run-getter Glenn Blakeney has still to confirm his availability.

Wicketkeeper Dean Minors is also understood to be still contemplating his plans for the summer and has not yet attended training sessions.

But the absence of Smith could be St. David's heaviest blow as they attempt to defend the league championship, the Camel Cup, Knockout Cup, Champion of Champions title and Eastern Counties crown.

Smith, who joined North Village late last year, was forced to sit out both of that club's two season-ending finals, the Friendship Trophy and FA Cup because of what he termed as "slight cartilage tears" to his left knee.

Now that injury will require an operation on June 11 and he is expected to be sidelined for anywhere between four to six weeks.

However, despite the setback, Smith said he remained optimistic about the possibility of having the operation brought forward so that he could fully recover in time for Cup Match.

Smith recalled how he suffered the injury during a pre-Friendship Trophy Final warm-up match for Village against a visiting college team.

"We had a practice match against an overseas school team up at the National Sports Centre and during the match I basically felt the pain increasing in my left knee," he recalled. "So I sought medical advice and they discovered that I had a slight cartilage tear in my left knee.

"I'm due to have surgery on June 11, but I am also hoping that they (doctors) can arrange an earlier date and move the operation forward."

On the plus side, St. David's have welcomed back Clay's brother, veteran Wendell Smith and former St. George's opening bowler Mackie Crane.