L'ST'CK will be hoping to make it third time lucky as they go for the Cheshire championship on Saturday.

Sale Excelsior, winners in four of the last eight years, stand between them and the Brunner Cup, the most prestigious team prize in the county.

In contrast to their opponents record, Lostock lost both of their two previous appearances in the final in 1994 and 1996.

And although bowler Martin Griffiths says his team are in confident mood, he accepts they will be underdogs.

We go into the game confident we can give a good account of ourselves, said Griffiths. But were all going to have to play to the best of our ability on the day and if we can do that we should get the right result.

Theres some very interesting games in there, but its difficult to break down how they will go. All 12 are key matches.

Lostocks form in this tournament should certainly give them heart for the final, as they look to follow up their semi-final win over Alsager.

Securing the first Cheshire team championship of the millennium would more than make up for their defeats in the 1990s.

Griffiths added: Its very prestigious and gives us entry into national team championships next season, so theres quite a lot to play for.

The prize money is moderate for a team, its more for the prestige. Its the pinnacle of team bowls and the one people in Cheshire want to win.

The full draw for the final, to take place at the Railway Inn, Mobberley (2.30pm) is (Lostock players first):

Steve Nixon v Arthur Murray; Gerald Merry v John Quinn; Mark Winnington v Neil Jenkinson; Jason Cornes v Tommy Allison; Martin Griffiths v Ned Burrows; Steve Brittleton v Martin Bacon.

Danny Nixon v Robert Crawshaw; Paul Mackie v Jason Lockett; Jamie Mottershead v Ron Stanford; Graham Donnelly v Tommy Johnstone; Charlie Linegar v Alan Murray; Alan Chantler v Kevin Wolohan.