Eastern Counties champions St.David's will defend their title against arch rivals Bailey's Bay at Lords today without national team pace ace George O'Brien jr and veteran batsman Clay Smith.

O'Brien, who tormented Scotland in the second innings of last week's Intercontinental Cup match, has been ruled out through injury while Smith selflessly excused himself to give one of the Islanders' promising youngsters the chance to appear in the 105-year-old competition.

"Bailey's Bay will probably be delighted to know that George is not playing because he is one of the most feared bowlers in Bermuda. But they are still going to have to fear us," declared Otis Minors, chairman of St. David's selectors.

All-rounder Arthur Pitcher jr is now expected to share new ball duties along with England-based quickie Stefan Kelly.

Smith's omission might have come as a surprise, given his value to the Islanders' middle order. Still, Minors feels his team possess sufficient batting depth to get the job done in the ex-national team skipper's absence.

"Clay excused himself because he didn't want to deprive a youngster's spot," he said. "He kind of paved the way for a youngster to play and was only willing to play if desperately needed."

All-rounder McClaren Lowe, whose father, Reverend Wilbur Lowe is a past Bailey's Bay cricketer and president, will now enter the frame as a colt.

Lowe has been in punishing form with the bat lately, having helped himself to back-to-back half-centuries against Willow Cuts (91) and Southampton Rangers (71) in league play.

"McClaren has been in good form and is going into this match high on confidence. He also has lots of support," Minors said.

On paper, St.David's have assembled what Minors described as a "well balanced team" that also includes top all-rounders Delyone Borden, OJ Pitcher and skipper Lionel Cann as well as young, exciting batsmen Chris Douglas and Fiqre Crockwell.

Minors, an ex-St.David's wicketkeeper, is confident the cup will remain at its current address where it has resided for the past three years.

"We have a well balanced team that contains some of the best bowlers and batsmen on the Island," he said.

Meanwhile, national team vice-captain Rodney Trott will captain Bay for the first time.

The 20-year-old all-rounder will captain a Bay side containing two colts in left-handed batsman Brendon Trott and all-rounder Jonathan Allen.

The challengers, who lost the cup to St.David's in 2005, have recalled star batsman Glenn Blakeney and all-rounder Corey Hill but have surprisingly dropped veteran batsman Charlie Marshall, one of a handful of batsmen to score over 1,000 runs in the annual classic, and his nephew all-rounder Jahmeiko Marshall.

Bay's squad also contains Bermuda skipper Irving Romaine and in-form batsman Stephen Outerbridge who cracked a maiden century (113) playing for Bermuda last weekend against Scotland in the Intercontinental Cup.

Outerbridge, who relinquished captaincy of Bay's side to the promising Trott, is confident he and his team-mates will do their community proud at Lords today.

"I have faith in the players that they will perform on the day," he said. "Counties is a special occasion and special moments will happen on Saturday. Let's hope those moments happen in our favour."

St.David's: L.Cann (capt), OJ Pitcher, D.Hollis, D.Borden, L.Minors, M.Lowe (colt), C.Douglas, C.Foggo, S.Kelly, F.Crockwell, A.Pitcher.

Bailey's Bay: R.Trott (capt), S.Outerbridge, I.Romaine, G.Blakeney, C.Dill, C.Hill, D.Trott, T.Burgess, K.Trott, B.Trott (colt), J. Allen (colts).

Umpires: George Francis, Anthony Fubler.

Third umpire: James McKirdy

Match manager: Lester Harnett.