Match places this year.

The surprise development was disclosed by St. George's captain Clay Smith, who confirmed yesterday that he had approached both players in a bid to determine whether they might be interested in trying out for places in this year's classic.

He sees both of them as being valuable in the club's bid to regain the cup he lost last year in his first year as captain.

When St. George's meet Somerset it will be the first time since 1983 that they will go into the match as challengers, having held the cup through wins and draws since Clevie Wade's triumph 14 years ago.

Now, after being dropped a few years ago, Gibbons and Manders are back in the picture.

In fact, Manders, who acknowledged that his Cup Match career was over after being dropped in 1995 for the fourth time, will captain one of the teams in Saturday's inter-club trial match in the absence of Smith.

Gibbons played the last of his 23 Cup Matches in 1993 and, like Manders, also hit out at the way in which he lost his place. But as two of the Island's best and most experienced all-rounders, both could find themselves making comebacks.

"I just want to keep all my options open,'' said Smith yesterday, adding that he may not be able to call on the experience of brother Wendell, who may not play because of other commitments. Clevie Wade, recovering from knee surgery, is another who may not be available.

"Arnold's been an experienced player and knows what it takes to win,'' said Clay Smith.

"With him being in the presence of the team-mates hopefully it can rub off on the rest of us. I, not the selectors, have confronted Noel about considering playing again and he has accepted the offer as well.'' Smith spoke to Gibbons about possibly returning before the Bermuda team went to Malaysia for the ICC Tournament. It was while in Malaysia that he held a similiar discussion with Manders.

Wendell Smith's possible absence would rob the team of an experienced opening batsman and that could pave the way for Dexter Smith to return after being dropped last year.

Smith has has been named in the first trial match, as has Police opener Dennis Archer, who blasted 153 against St. George's on Sunday.

The club will attempt to play five Cup Match trials this season, something which has not been achieved for a few years by either club because of a packed schedule. St. George's are hoping to stage further trials on June 21, 28 and July 5 with the final trial scheduled for July 26.

The June trials will begin at 11 a.m. and the July trials at 10 a.m.

Saturday's teams are: Dean Minors (capt), Eugene Foggo, Shea Pitcher, Calvin Dill, Jason Lewis, Jason Anderson, Desmond Crockwell, Sinclair Gibbons, Clarkie Trott, David Adams, Dale Fox, Troy Harford, Troy Bean, Jermaine Postlethwaite.

Arnold Manders (capt), Charles Marshall, Dexter Smith, Gregory Sampson, Dennis Archer, Troy Hall, Lewis Foggo, Dennis Trott, Nyon Steede, Rudell Pitcher, Gary Brangman, Gregg Foggo, Herbie Bascome, Kameron Fox.