ONE First Division side will still be in the FA Cup after this weekend's quarter-final matches...but it may be too much to expect Key West Rangers to keep the Commercial Division flag flying for another round.

Not since 1997, when Wolves defied the odds, has a First Division (then Second Division) team reached the final, but Southampton Rangers or Prospect have that achievement within their grasp when they meet at Southampton Oval on Sunday.

Current form gives Rangers an edge but Prospect, whose promotion hopes took a severe hit last Sunday when they were beaten 4-1 by St. George's, will have plenty to play for in the cup.

For either team to reach the semi-finals would be a significant achievement, even though for Rangers there is the threat of their promotion push being affected by a good FA Cup run. They are also in the semi-finals of the Shield where they are due to meet St. David's next month.

Prospect represent a big hurdle for Rangers and coach Nick Jones knows they cannot be taken lightly.

"They are a side that has potential, obviously, with people like John Richmond, Paul Towlson and Vic Ball," said Jones on the day of the quarter-final draw.

"But you've got to feel confident when you get a home draw and confident and very happy when you get somebody inside your own division. What's at stake is a place in the last four and then it becomes an away game for everybody and anything can happen, which is what is so special about any FA Cup."

Key West Rangers are surprise quarter-finalists, but this is where their cup run should end, as Devonshire Cougars should be too strong for them at Devonshire Rec. However, it is the FA Cup and strange results are not uncommon.

"Realistically I guess everybody wanted to play us, but our choice would have been Prospect or Southampton Rangers," said Key West President and player-coach Ricky Mallory after the draw.

Rangers are enjoying themselves in the cup, having shocked Wolves 3-2 in the last round. Even as favourites there will be some pressure on Cougars as the expectations will be high.

"Realistically we shouldn't beat them, half of us don't train, just come and show up for games and have fun," said Mallory.

Cougars blew possibly their last chance to win the league last weekend when they went down to Boulevard. Now they look like having to settle for another second-place finish, something they last achieved in 1978-79 when Village won the league. It was also the same season that Cougars reached the final of the FA Cup, so history could be about to repeat itself. Somerset won the cup that year, with a 4-0 win in the final.

Dandy Town, out of the league running, could spoil Village's bid for a second straight league and FA Cup double as they meet them for the first of back to back meetings. The match at St. John's Field will be a repeat of last year's final which Village won 3-0. It will also be a prelude to next weekend's crucial league encounter at Bernard Park when Village go in search of the draw they need to clinch their sixth league title.

Town still have plenty to play for, too, as they are also in the semi-final of the Friendship which could mean two end-of-season appearances in finals.

Another very interesting match will be at Somerset Cricket Club where the Trojans and Eagles will clash in a west-end derby for the second straight week. Eagles have the Trojans' number in recent clashes, but the Trojans do have a proud cup history which will count for something.

Along with PHC, the Trojans have won the cup nine times, which is more than any other team. Also, their season is threatening to end in disaster with the defeat to Eagles last weekend leaving them uncomfortably close to relegation with just one match remaining.

Eagles, for so long at the bottom of the tables, will pull off one of the greatest escapes ever if they beat Boulevard in their final outing to avoid relegation. And to put some gloss on their season, there is also the possibility of a second straight appearance in the semi-finals of the FA Cup.

"Last year it was in the same competition that we beat them the first time and I'm sure they will be seeking revenge," said Eagles coach Marc Bean when he heard the two teams would meet again.

Quite a number of former Somerset Trojans players are now with the Eagles, which will add to the hype, along with the fact that another ex-Trojan - Duval Binns - had a ban from Somerset's grounds reinstated after he was recently allowed to play there against PHC.

"To me it's easier at this stage to face someone supposedly as tough as Somerset, rather than come up against someone like Southampton Rangers or a team that could use the underdog vibe to drive them forward," said Bean.

Schedule: Dev. Cougars v Key West Rangers (Dev. Rec); Dandy Town v North Village (St. John's); Som. Trojans v Som. Eagles (Somerset CC); Southampton Rangers v Prospect (Southampton Oval). All matches start at 2.30 p.m.