Shropshire will have to cope without strike bowler Steve Taylor if they are to record back-to-back Minor Counties Western Division victories.

Officials earlier in the week had been hopeful the St Georges paceman had a ’50-50′ chance of featuring in the three-day clash with Devon at Shifnal which gets under way tomorrow morning.

But Taylor has now been definitely ruled out due to work commitments.

That means a recall for Mike Barnard, while his Shrewsbury team-mate Alex Blofield is in line for a debut.

Ted Bayliss also returns as Shropshire aim to build on their thrilling victory over Wales in their last outing at Bridgnorth which left them lying third in the table after two matches out of six.

To do that, however, captain James Ralph believes his side must show greater application with the bat.

“I think the strength of both us and Devon lies in the batting so whoever bats best is going to be able to control the game,” he said.

“We did well to chase 300 at Bridgnorth but we need to bat our 90 overs in the first innings.

“We have got players getting to 30 or 40 very easily but not going on to make the big scores, and that’s down to application and poor decision making.”

Seb Benton will be making his Minor Counties debut for Devon.

Benton, Devon born and a product of the county youth system, has played regularly on a non-contract basis for Warwickshire seconds in recent seasons.

He is currently at Cardiff UCCE with another Devon player, Shrewsbury’s Tom Allin who misses the game through commitments with the Bears.

Tomorrow’s game starts at 11am, and Shropshire will be hoping for a better showing than in the last meeting between the two teams at Shifnal in 1993 when they were beaten after being bowled out for 64 in the second innings.