The 2006-07 Premier?s Dudley Eve Cup competition officially kicks off tonight with what promises to be an intriguing double-header at the Den.

In the 7 p.m. curtain raiser, Southampton Rangers take on Devonshire Colts while defending Premier Division Dudley Eve champions Devonshire Cougars lock horns with North Village in what will be a repeat of last season?s final at Wellington Oval.

Rangers handed Colts their sole league loss of the season on November 26 at Police Field, the last time these two clubs met. Donnie Charles grabbed the decisive goal but then went from hero to villain by getting sent off after committing a second bookable offence midway through the second half.

Rangers? sole loss this season arrived on October 15 at Malabar where league leaders Ireland Rangers pumped four goals past Brian (Bulla) Anderson?s squad.

Colts, meanwhile, have scored nine goals and not conceded any in 180 minutes of football, and have scored the second most amount of goals (30) in the division ? twice the amount Rangers have scored so far.

Therefore, the men in the blue will have to be on top of their game defensively if they are to keep a prolific Colts? attack containing the likes of national team striker Aljame Zuill and youngster Ryan Purnell at bay.

But it?s anybody?s guess which way tonight?s Premier Dudley Eve contest involving cross-town rivals Cougars and Village will go.

Cougars will enter the match buoyed by Sunday?s comfortable 3-1 win over Dandy Town.

Village, on the other hand, slumped to their third overall defeat against a rejuvenated Boulevard.

Cougars and Village have only met each other once so far this season in an October 15 league match that ended in a 3-3 draw.

Not much separates the two urban rivals statistically with Village ahead of Cougars in the standings by a solitary point.

And tonight?s clash could prove to be just as close as both teams wrestle for the all-important first win in the double-elimination tournament involving the top four teams from the Premier and First Divisions at the halfway stage of the season.

A total of $15,000 in prize earnings will be up for grabs during the festive tournament, with the eventual winners pocketing $3,000, the runners-up $2,000, the third-placed team $1,500 and the fourth-placed team $1,000.

Cougars and Wolves, who open the defence of their title this Friday night at Somerset Cricket Club against Ireland Rangers, are the tournament?s defending champions.