ROTHMANS Cup holders Templars will be stretched when they begin their defence of the trophy against the dangerous Little Sai Wan this month.
The Kowloon Cricket Club outfit, runaway champions of the Connaught Sunday League this season, have six of their top players in Kenya representing Hong Kong in the International Cricket Council Trophy, which starts on February 12.
The six are Steve Atkinson, Templars' captain and Hong Kong's vice-captain, territory skipper Pat Fordham, all-rounder Ravi Sujanani, pace bowler Paul Cresswell and spin twins Yarman Vachha and Bharat Gohel.
The first round of the Rothmans Cup - the most prestigious knockout trophy in domestic cricket - takes place on February 20, giving Sai Wan a great chance of causing an upset.
Although Sai Wan have lost former Templars all-rounder Riaz Farcy to the call of Africa, they have enough depth to test Templars.
Last year's runners-up, Pakistan Association, take on Hong Kong Cricket Club's Wanderers at the Diocesan Boys' School.
After the seven first round winners are known, one of them will receive a bye into the semi-finals. The same rule applies to the seven first round losers in the Plate competition.
