Dandy Town will begin the defence of their Premier Division title when they face Robin Hood for the second time in three weeks at St John’s Field on Sunday.

Hornets beat Hood in the traditional season-opening Charity Cup at Bernard Park on September 4 to avenge last season’s FA Cup final loss to Kyle Lightbourne’s team.

The home side enter the clash unbeaten in their first three matches of the campaign, while Hood are still searching for their first win after losing 7-0 against North Village in the Dudley Eve Trophy last weekend.

Although Town are favourites for victory Angelo Simmons, the team’s captain, is not taking Hood for granted.

“We know it’s not going to be an easy battle and we don’t take them lightly because they did beat us in the FA Cup last season,” Simmons said.

“We know they are going to bring high intensity, hunger and fight after just losing 7-0.

“Any team that loses 7-0 are going to want to put their best foot forward in their next match.

“But we’re ready to take up the challenge and are going to approach it like any other game.

“We’re prepared to battle and hopefully we can get the three points we want because you always want to start off the league with a win and hopefully we can make our fans and community proud.”

Town clinched an eighth league title and fourth in seven seasons with two games to spare last season.

But Simmons believes that this season’s title race will be tougher.

“There are definitely five or six teams that can push for the title,” he said. “I think everyone poses a threat because you never know on any given day in football what can happen.

“We just have to keep ourselves focused on what we have to do and stick to our game plan.

“We’re just taking it one game at a time moving forward and hopefully we can do some great things this season and build on the last season.”

In Sunday’s remaining Premier Division matches, Boulevard are at home to in-form North Village at Police Field, Devonshire Cougars take on PHC Zebras at Devonshire Recreation Club, Somerset Eagles host Devonshire Colts at White Hill Field while Flanagan’s Onions face Somerset Trojans at Goose Gosling Field.

All matches kick off at 3pm.

The First Division season starts on October 2.