three time champions North Village, when play gets underway tomorrow night at BAA Field in the prestigious double-elimination Dudley Eve Trophy competition.

Current league leaders Vasco will square off against Town in the night's opening encounter (7.00 p.m.), while surprising Southampton face the flaming hot Red Devils in the 9.00 p.m. nightcap.

Immediately installed as slim favourites for the Christmas spectacle were Vasco based on Sunday's 6-1 mauling of a St. George's group that entered Sunday's contest still with a shot at qualifying for the tournament, as well as their general dismantling of all manner of competition during the first half.

Village rate a close second, although some would dispute the second billing and point to the North Shore club's current six-game winning streak, including a 2-1 triumph over an injury and suspension-hit Vasco on December 10, at Bernard Park.

However, rather than get caught up in all the hoopla as to who should be favoured, Vasco coach John Rebello was yesterday looking no further than tomorrow's contest, saying that his squad will not deviate from that which has carried them to this point.

"We'll just take Town as we do every game, we're not looking to change our style any and just use the tools that have gotten us to this point. We'll go out, do the best we can and build from what we did on Sunday,'' said Rebello, already armed with the Charity and Martonmere Cups.

"Our game plan doesn't change and we must go out and play how we know how and whatever Town throws at us we must try to counteract.

"(But) even though Town are having a rough go, personally I still give them the highest respect and consider them one of the most potent teams in Bermuda and when things get rolling they can really perform and be hard to stop.

"I know what it's like to have the best or one of the best teams on paper and not be able to put it all together.

"In this tournament you have the four top guns in there and every one wants to win and everyone is capable of winning.'' Rebello foretold that the team to emerge with minimal `damage' to personnel will be in the best shape for the second half stretch run in the league.

He scoffed at the idea that those sides failing to earn a berth were advantaged by being able to relax over the holiday period.

"Whoever comes out with the least amount of injuries or cards will march forward and us having a small squad could certainly be hurt if we were to pick up bangs,'' the coach said. "The team that wins and stays healthy would carry momentum into the second half and I would further say that the league champion will come out of the four involved.

"They say that the other teams are home getting rest and all that, but their also getting rusty and could come back with a few chinks in their armour instead, while the other four that are playing stay sharp.'' Vasco, with previous triumphs in 1981 and 1984, are almost completely healthy heading in, however will likely be minus hard-working forward Irving Burgess for the third straight match. Burgess has an ankle injury that is healing slowly and Rebello said he would be hesitant to play him at any level below 100 percent.

In two prior meetings this season Vasco have beaten Town once (2-0) and drawn (1-1) in league play.

The competition continues on Boxing Day with matches at White Hill Field when one team will be eliminated, while the remaining matches take place at Somerset Cricket Club (semi-final, December 28), PHC (final, first leg, December 30 and Wellington Oval (final, second leg, January 1).

IRVING BURGESS