REDDITCH CC skipper Guy Muspratt has a number of selection headaches ahead of Saturday's league curtain-raiser at Shifnal.

Wicketkeeper Alan Houghton has dropped a bombshell on the club by deciding to play golf this summer and reserve keeper Jeff Russell is out for three weeks through work commitments.

Seconds wicketkeeper Ian Phelan is set to get the call for Saturday (1pm start).

Last season's captain Steve Juckes has decided not to play this season because of family commitments and fellow bat Dan Protherough is out for a month with a broken thumb.

With Aussie Jason Morgan unlikely to return to the club to replace compatriot Luke Wells, Muspratt will take a weakened side to Shifnal as the club prepares to return to Birmingham Senior League action.

And captain Muspratt admits he knows nothing about the opposition.

"I'm going into it blind," he said.

"With the league now split into Eastern and Western sections there are a lot of teams we have never played before.

"I have found out about some of the newcomers from players from other clubs but I know nothing about Shifnal and they don't know anything about us."

Saturday's friendly trip to arch-rivals Studley was cancelled because of wet weather together with Sunday's trip to Bewdley.