Former Champions In Bid For 2006 PSL Title

Former champions Benz-Bavarian Duffield and Churchill Edgbaston Priory field strong squads in next week's two semi-final legs as both clubs bid to reclaim the Premier League (PSL) title after long gaps.

Edgbaston Priory, winners of all but one tie this season en-route to a storming finish at the top of the North Group, won the PSL title in 2001 and 2003 - and secured their third final berth in 2004. The Birmingham club visit South Group runners-up Oberthur Strings Tewkesbury on Tuesday before hosting the Gloucestershire club in the return fixture 48 hours later.

In the absence of squad number one David Palmer, who has returned to New South Wales for the arrival of his first-born child, fellow Australian Stewart Boswell will lead the Edgbaston attack in both ties - taking on the Strings' number one Cameron Pilley, also an Australian! The powerful Priory line-up features three England internationals Adrian Grant, Peter Barker and Manchester's world No5 Vicky Botwright.

Duffield, winners of the PSL crown in 1998 in their only appearance in the final, face South Group champions Team Chichester, the Sussex club in their fourth successive year in the play-offs. The Derbyshire club will be led by England international Nick Matthew, the British National champion from Sheffield who takes on Chichester top string Ben Garner.

The standout clash in the first leg at Chichester is likely to be the women's battle between England team-mates Linda Elriani and Tania Bailey. Sussex star Elriani will be hoping to exploit home advantage in the first meeting between the pair since Bailey beat the world No8 in the National Championship final at the beginning of the year to relieve Elriani of the title!