North Village stalwart Kentoine Jennings has received the thumbs-up to play in the Reds? pivotal league fixture against defending Premier Division champions Devonshire Cougars at the Den tomorrow.

The imposing defender sustained a cut to the nose challenging for an aerial ball during his team?s convincing win over Boulevard at Bernard Park last weekend and was subsequently replaced.

Demonstrating the fighting spirit which has elevated him to near cult status at Village, Jennings insists he?s fully recovered and determined to return to his position in the heart of the Village defence.

Village currently top the Premier table on goal difference over Somerset Trojans.

?I?m not experiencing any discomfort. I come from the old school,? Jennings told

If there are concerns in the Village camp, they might be concentrated on the team?s midfield which will be without the services of suspended Tafari Outerbridge and sparkplug Vernon Tankard, currently overseas on football trials at US Indoor side Baltimore Blast.

Another midfield dynamo, Jemeiko Jennings is still out through injury while Kaiwon Dill and Ralph Bean jr did train with the squad this week and could earn a spot on coach Dwayne Adams? team.

Jamal Boyles, Jennings? 68th minute replacement against Blazers, is one suitable replacement for the absent Tankard.

?Jamal is a quality player and someone I know is capable of doing the job,? Jennings added. ?I think this could be Jamal?s big chance and once he gets in he could possibly push someone out of the middle. But overall our only real concern lies with Vernon who is our only natural left-footed midfielder.?

As for tomorrow?s challenge against the Big Cats, Jennings stated: ?This is a match I look forward to every season. ?Cougars have a great team and good bunch of guys over there and they make you want to be on top of your game because if you aren?t they have the potential to put you away.?

The guile of Cougars coach and former Reds? icon Andrew Bascome, Jennings noted, only added to the occasion.

?He?s a quality coach who always has something up his sleeve,? he added.

Cougars and Village have already met each other twice this season, Village edging their nearby rivals 4-3 to clinch a record-tying fourth straight Charity Cup. The teams then drew 1-1 in the Martonmere Cup to set the stage for tomorrow?s clash at the Den.

Refusing to buy into Cougars? loss to Trojans in their last league outing, Jennings has urged his team-mates not to take their opponents lightly.

?Cougars are always a dangerous team,? he warned.

In tomorrow?s other Premier Division matches, fourth-placed Dandy Town host struggling Boulevard at the Barn while PHC Zebras continue their search for a first league win of the season at Southampton Oval against another winless club, Devonshire Colts.

At Malabar, high-flying Trojans are heavily favoured to come away with maximum points against newly-promoted Ireland Rangers.

Rangers remain anchored at the bottom of the table and have yet to score a single goal in the top tier after 270 minutes of football.

Elsewhere tomorrow, Prospect United host Somerset Eagles in this weekend?s only First Division fixture.