After a break of six weeks, Bedfordshire return to action this weekend when they make the trip up the M6 to Barrow to face Cumberland in the Minor Counties Championship Eastern Division.

James Knott's side suffered a complete washout in their opening three-day fixture against Suffolk at Dunstable in May and will come up against a Cumberland side who have been emphatically beaten in their first two outings in the competition.

Despite this, they will be far from a pushover according to Beds all-rounder Andy Roberts.

He said: "They're a similar side to Beds in that they don't travel particularly well.

"They have some massive journeys to do and they tend to play poorly away from home.

"However it should be different up there. They can be a bit hit and miss but they are capable of being a good side."

As to their dangermen, Roberts highlighted veteran seamer Marcus Sharpe, saying: "He had a few years at Lancashire and is getting on a bit, but he's a wily old bowler and has been about for a while."

Cumberland could also include former Durham batsmen Gary Pratt and James Lowe in their line-up.

Selection promises to be a tricky issue for Beds who will have to do without Roberts due to work commitments. They will also be missing the trio of Chris Goode, Marc Jackson and George Arblaster.

As a result it could be a very young Beds side making the trip north, a fact that ties in with the rule that states sides must field nine players with an average age under 26.

With counties' funding dependent on them fulfilling the selection criteria, Beds face the decision to either stick with youth or select as strong a side as possible until player availability improves.

Roberts added: "Even if the Northants Academy lads like Dan Bendon and David Willey are playing, it will be an inexperienced side but one that is still capable of coming away with a result."

Beds' captain Knott returns to lead the side this weekend after missing the last game due to the birth of his second child and there is also a welcome return for batsman Cameron Wake.

Wake, who scored a century against Cumberland on his last Beds appearance, had a stint with Cambridgeshire and has recently graduated from Durham University.