THERE'LL be plenty of head scratching at the Torquay and Devon & Exeter clubs next week, as senior players and officials try to select the two teams to meet in next Friday night's Devon Squash Cup Final.

The showdown takes place at Torquay's Barton Road courts (7pm), and it comes in the wake of D&E I taking Torquay I's Devon League title away from them over the past few weeks.

Throw in the final Premier Division fixture between the sides, at Exeter, on Monday night and there's all you need for a recipe of nerves, last-minute phone calls and, perhaps, false trails!

Definitely out are one player from each side — Torquay's Gavin Perrett and D&E's Matt Baker are both committed to the annual England Squash Guernsey Weekend.

With that league fixture intervening on Monday, there's still a chance for one or two players to stake a claim for a Cup Final place.

Among them are Jack Barnes and Jason Yeo.

They both played in this week's league match against Devon & Exeter's 'second' team, Exonians, this week.

Yeo had a comfortable ride against reserve Ian Robinson, winning 11/3, 11/4, 11/4.

Barnes had a tougher task against the experienced Keith Conder, and he was still suffering the effects of a stomach bug.

Barnes tried hard, but lost 7/11, 9/11, 6/11.

Earlier in the evening Torquay player-coach Dave Palmer twice came from behind to beat Christian Turner in five.

It wasn't until the last two games that Palmer homed in on Turner's susceptibility at the front of the court and on his forehand side.

Palmer won 5/11, 11/7, 7/11, 11/5, 11/1.

Gavin Perrett must have wondered whether he former county champion Mike Gregory off the hook.

After winning the first game, Gregory appeared to have sustained a hamstring injury, and Perrett levelled the match.

He seemed to expect Gregory to admit defeat to his injury and eased off a little.

Instead Gregory continued, called on his know-how, moved Perrett around the court and won 11/5, 6/11, 12/10, 12/10.

The tie came down to the last match between Ashley Knight and Torquay's Stuart Perrett.

Perrett had won their previous meeting and he took the first game 11/4.

But Knight dug in, drew Perrett into some longer rallies and won 3-1 (12/10, 11/8, 11/9.

It gave Exonians a 3-2 (16-8) victory.

Torquay II also lost, 3-2 (14-7) away to Fort Stamford II in Division One.

There were wins for Ian Bransdon, an impressive comeback with a comfortable 3-0 against Wes Cullen, and Dave Lewis 3-0 against a stricken Mark Alford.

But Fort won thanks to James O'Neil, Ross Portass and John Sumner.

O'Neil beat Steve Lewis in three, Portass did the same to Andy Robb and Sumner beat Richard Crook 3-1.