BASINGSTOKE and North Hants' leading wicket-taker last season, Charl Willoughby, will not be returning this season.

The South African, the joint top wicket-taker in the Home Counties league last season, dislocated his shoulder while playing for Western Province in the final games of the winter season.

However, Basingstoke believe they have found just as lethal a bowler in his replacement, spin king Paul Harris.

The 23-year-old will make his Home Counties league debut tomorrow as Basingstoke travel to Slough for their opening game of the season.

Harris (pictured), a team-mate of Willoughby's at Western Province, is looked upon as one of the top young bowlers in the country.

His best figures during the winter came just two months ago as he helped the Western Province second string to the UCB Bowl. A superb display of bowling saw him take 8-53 against Northerns to win them the match.

He said: "I have been told by Charl this is a very good league and I can't wait to make my debut."

He will be a major factor in Basingstoke's hopes for the coming season in which skipper Lee Nurse believes his side will have a shot at the title.

Nurse said: "I don't think any team in this league has ever had a really good spin bowler so it gives us a real advantage."

With all of last year's squad returning, the major boost is that trio Ray Pavesi, Ian Maynard and Jon Govett are all fully fit.

Maynard will once again open the batting with Nurse, while Govett will open the bowling with Chris Chandler.

Pavesi, rated as one of the best all-rounders in the league, looks in good form after topping the batting and bowling in Basing-stoke's warm-up win over Uxbridge.

Reigning league champions Finchampstead have lost their top player, Australian Jon Moss - top run scorer and equal top wicket-taker with Willoughby.

Last season, Basingstoke finished fourth with tomorrow's opponents, Slough, fifth. But Nurse feels their major rivals for honours will be Banbury - last season's runners-up.

Nurse said: "We will be looking to get our season off to a winning start and take it from there."

Tomorrow's XI is L Nurse, Maynard, Hunter, Giles, Pavesi, Dyer, D Nurse, P Harris, K Harris, Govett, Chandler.

On Sunday (1pm), Harris will be unable to play, as he is an overseas player, as Basingstoke face local rivals Falkland in the second round of the National Cup.

Scott Dyer and Andy Giles are also unavailable, so Keith Harsham, Russell Droy and Mitchell Stokes are called into the line-up.

Nurse said: "Playing a side led by former Basingstoke player Julian Wood will certainly add some spice to a game in which both teams will want to win."