TOM Nugent is set to play his first Unicorns Championship game of the season when Berkshire take on Devon at Falkland CC in a three-day match starting on Sunday (11am).

The paceman was forced to miss the previous three games due to work commitments after starting a new job, but he has made himself available on this occasion.

In his absence, Berkshire brought in a different replacement for each game, and they were all part of a winning team, including last week’s 322-run annihilation of second-in-the-table Shropshire at Finchampstead.

This leaves the national champions as the only unbeaten county in the Western Division and if they can extend their winning run to four games in their final home fixture of the season they will be strongly placed to retain the title.

They have not lost a home league game since July 2014.

While things are continuing to go well for the Royal County, the same cannot be said of Devon.

They were expected to be strong title challengers, but instead surprisingly find themselves still seeking their first championship win this summer, following a draw with Wales Minor Counties and defeats by Cornwall and Herefordshire.

Berkshire, however, will not be taking them lightly, with head coach Tom Lambert stating: “Devon are a very good side who we always greatly respect. We are looking forward to another very competitive three days.”

James Morris and his team also will not need reminding it was Devon who knocked them out of this season’s Unicorns Trophy, winning their quarter-final tie at Exmouth by 22 runs in June despite a five-wicket haul from Henley’s Nugent.

Devon went on to reach the final and will play Cheshire at Wormsley on Wednesday, August 29, four days after the West Countrymen face Berkshire in the T20 semi finals at the same Stokenchurch venue.

Lambert has again been forced to delay naming his side for Sunday as a number of his players may be required by first-class counties for second-team duty.

Henley batsman Richard Morris is a doubt due to his work outside of cricket.