Two new captains will attempt to begin their reigns with trophy glory as the curtain goes up on the local cricket season with a clash of the titans this Saturday.

The last two sets of Tucker Gardner League Division One champions do battle at The Parks as 2015 kings Godmanchester host 2014 table-toppers Ramsey in the Smith Barry Senior Cup final (1pm start).

And the 40-overs-a-side clash will give new skippers Paul Swannell of Godmanchester and Michael Cafferkey of Ramsey the chance to start out their latest tenures with a bang.

Both men have captained their respective clubs in the past before taking on the jobs again during the winter.

Swannell is predicting a typically tight and hard-fought tussle between the sides.

He said: “It would certainly be nice to start with a trophy in our first game.

“We play every game to win and Saturday will be no different.

“They are always good games against Ramsey as we tend to be quite evenly-matched teams, and I’m sure this one will be no different.”

Swannell’s appointment to replace Matt Pateman, who has returned to first club Eaton Socon, is one of few changes at Godmanchester over the winter.

They also have a new overseas player – South African spinning all-rounder Jarryd Phillips – but another new South African recruit Russell Withey, who has been over here for several years, has already been sidelined by a dislocated shoulder on the eve of the season.

Ramsey tend to head Down Under for their overseas recruits and have done so again this winter.

All-rounder Blake Mills - who Cafferkey played against during a stint of his own in Australia - and wicket-keeper/batsman Sam Kingston, who holds a British passport, are due to arrive on these shores later this week.

Two other bowlers, left-arm seamer Sam Latchford of Warboys and off-spinner Kasim Iqhlaq from Nassington, have also joined.

Cafferkey said: “We’re using Saturday as a pre-season game, but it is still a cup final and one we’d like to win.

“The two Aussie lads are due to get here today and tomorrow, and we’ll have everyone available.”