FORTY triallists will battle it out for a place in Oxfordshire’s Middleton Cup squad this season.

In a change to the selection process, they will play in three trial games before the final squad of 30 is chosen.

Following an internal trial at Oxford City & County on Tuesday, Oxon have two county warm-up games.

They play Northamptonshire at Kingsthorpe BC, Northampton, this Saturday, and then face Gloucestershire at City & County on Saturday, May 18.

Headington’s Craig Nicoll is not bowling this season for work reasons.

But coming into contention are 18-year-old Sam Watts (Watlington), John Hardie (Kidlington), Andy McIntyre, Sammy Timms and Gordon Walker (all Carterton), Remy Clanfield and Jon Philpott (Headington), Paul Comley and Mark Hancock (Oxford City & County) and Adrian Kemish (Thame).

Carterton’s Alan Prew will continue as captain, but clubmate Baden Sparkes will miss this Saturday’s game due to a knee problem.

Barry Lambourne moves up to skip in his place and Keith Holloway plays at lead to the captain. Mike Petersen moves to two on Paul Shaman’s rink.

Oxfordshire (v Northants): K Holloway, G Schwab, M Hancock, A Prew; AJ Docherty, A McIntyre, K Alder, M Sykes; L Young, P Comley, D Clanfield, B Lambourne; A Kemish, Re Clanfield, S Claridge, M Charlett; R Pink, M Petersen, A Martin, P Sharman; S Watts, W Campion, J Hardie, C Carpenter. Res: S Cooper, N Lewis, R Redford.