League, FA and Charity Cup champions North Village can secure the first semi-final spot in Group A when Martonmere Cup action resumes tomorrow at BAA Field.

Village, losing Martonmere finalists in 2001/02, only require a single point from untested Boulevard Blazers in tomorrow's first match of a double-header to advance into the final four.

The reds, 2-0 thus far, will also be gunning for their third straight win of the season. And no one is more pleased by the team's solid start then coach Scott Morton, now in his third year at the helm.

"I am really pleased with what I've seen from them so far," he said. "They are more or less working together as a unit consistently and that always makes coaching a bit easier."

Morton also has another useful weapon in his arsenal - superior team depth.

"We are going to make one or two changes to the team because of the number of players we have," he said. "We want to see which players are the best combinations to suit the team."

Morton said he expects tomorrow's contest to be another "exciting" match between the two urban rivals.

"They always give us a run for the money and we love playing against them," he added. "We love playing against teams who can test us to our limits and that's the only way for me as coach to see the true character of my players."

Village last hoisted the Martonmere Cup in 1988/89 and have appeared in the final, traditionally contested on November 11, on three other occasions since then.

In Group B action, Dandy Town find themselves in a do-or-die situation against 2001/02 champions Devonshire Cougars. Town found the pickings bleak last weekend thanks to a 3-0 defeat against Somerset Eagles and they can ill-afford to duplicate that lacklustre performance tomorrow.

Staring straight down the elimination barrel, Town must quickly pick up the pieces and get things back on track if they are to avoid being bundled out of the competition they last won in 1999/2000.

Should Town fail, Group B leaders Somerset Eagles, marking their first time in the pre-season competition, will soar into the semi-finals. If so it would be their third such appearance in a major cup competition in three seasons.

Town should welcome speedy forward Carlos Smith and Reggie Tucker Jr back into the fold. Both players were absent during last week's encounter as was Brendan O'Riordan who it has transpired has returned to the UK. Others absent last week were Seyoum Tuzo and Pernell Douglas, the latter obtaining a release from the club but still to make a move.

On the flip side of the coin, Devonshire Cougars will be looking to get their season off to a flyer. Cougars threatened to walk away with top honours in every competition during the previous campaign and are again expected to be in the hunt for silverware this season.

Cougars were bolstered during the off-season by the arrival of former North Village forward Domico Coddington who is expected to combine alongside last season's MVP and top poacher Raymond Beach and trusted sidekick Heys Wolfe in attack.