Domico Coddington has been ruled out of Devonshire Cougars’ line-up for tonight’s Friendship Trophy semi-final clash against Paget at BAA Field.

The 2004-05 Bermuda Football Association MVP suffered an ankle injury when he landed awkwardly following a tackle from behind during Cougars’ 2-1 league win over Boulevard at the Den on Sunday.

And yesterday club sources confirmed that Coddington could miss his team’s next two matches, including this Sunday’s crucial league encounter with fellow championship contenders Somerset Trojans.

Even without the services of their top midfielders, Cougars will still enter tonight’s semi-final as heavy favourites to book their passage to a third straight cup final of the season and second Friendship final in three seasons.

Expected to come in to fill the void left by Coddington’s absence is youngster Ajani Gibbons who is enjoying arguably his best season in top flight football.

Others who could get the nod include Kor-Von Tucker — younger brother of Cougars’ midfielder Kori Goddard — or Randy Robinson, another youngster showing promise at the Den.

A Cougars win tonight will keep the Big Cats firmly on course for a second straight cup final showdown with Trojans who meet Boulevard in next week’s second Friendship Trophy semi-final at the Den.

Trojans blanked Cougars 3-0 on New Year’s Day to win a first Dudley Eve title in 12 years, and celebrate a third successive cup final win over their city rivals.

Paget, meanwhile, will be bidding to appear in a first cup final since last year’s First Division Shield Final which they hoisted after beating X Roads on penalties.

Lions suffered a crushing 5-0 defeat the last time they met Cougars, and are still smarting from Sunday’s 5-1 drubbing against Trojans at White Hill Field.

Tonight’s Friendship contest will be preceded by the First Division Shield semi-final involving Somerset Eagles and Southampton Rangers which kicks off at 7 p.m. Rangers and Eagles drew 1-1 at Southampton Oval last October in the only meeting between the two so far this season.