If success were measured by consistency in the league over the past three seasons, then current Premier Division leaders Devonshire Cougars would have to be pencilled in as favourites to make history and land a maiden championship at White Hill Field tomorrow.

The Big Cats have finished among the top three teams three years on the trot, and have placed no lower than fifth since returning to the top flight at the beginning of the 2000/01 campaign.

Cougars have been runners-up in the Premier Division in the last two seasons to Dandy Town and North Village respectively.

But now, for a side having endured more than a fair share of disappointments, their championship fate rests in their very own hands.

After nearest rivals and defending league champions Dandy Town surprisingly dropped vital points last weekend, Cougars find themselves in the unfamiliar position of not having to rely on anybody but themselves to clinch league glory.

However, to look beyond relegated Somerset Eagles and the $8,000 winning purse reserved for the eventual league champions, might be be unwise, especially since in recent years Cougars have always found a way to implode at the penultimate hurdle.

Cougars presently lead Town by two points and can wrest the title by taking maximum points off a relegated and despondent Eagles side left with nothing else to play for but pride.

Town, meanwhile, face a more daunting task against a Village side who seem to have their number this season at St. John?s Field.

In order to successfully defend their title, Hornets must take maximum points off Village and hope Eagles do them a favour by defeating or holding Cougars to a draw on their home turf.

In the event Town win and the Cougars/Eagles clash at White Hill Field ends in a draw, Hornets would move level on points with the Big Cats but would retain the title because of a superior goal difference.

The blueprint for Cougars success is simple . . . win at all costs.

Cougars hoisted the Martonmere Cup three seasons? ago but have come up empty handed in four cup finals since then, including last season?s FA Cup and this season?s inaugural Champions Cup finals to Town.

They were scheduled to appear in the 2002/03 FA Cup final but were booted from the competition for fielding an ineligible player in a lopsided semi-final win against First Division Prospect.

Cougars coach Andrew Bascome is on the verge of making history, winning a third league championship in the first year at the helm of a third different club.

Bascome previously coached Boulevard and Town to league glory in 1991 and 2001 in his first year on the job.

Cougars have also booked a date with PHC Zebras in next week?s Friendship Trophy final at the National Sports Centre.

Elsewhere, in matches of little or no importance, Somerset Trojans host Boulevard at Somerset Cricket Club and relegated landlords Southampton Rangers take on tenants PHC at Southampton Oval.

In First Division action, promoted Ireland Rangers can officially wrap up the championship ? and the $2,000 winner?s purse ? needing only to take a single point off Prospect at Police Field, while the battle for the sole remaining promotion spot is still within reach of Devonshire Colts, St.George?s and Prospect, though Colts are currently in the driver?s seat.

Colts take on lowly Social Club at BAA Field while St.George?s host Hamilton Parish at Wellington Oval, each hoping the other loses.

Third-placed St.George?s brought the promotion hopes of St.David?s?, who have a game in hand, to a grinding halt last weekend. Tomorrow St.David?s are away to X Roads Warriors in the first match of a double-header at Wellington Oval.

A Colts win coupled by a St.George?s loss, or vice-versa, could assure at least one of those teams promotion to the top flight next season.

However, should Prospect get past Rangers tomorrow, and both St.George?s and Colts drop points, the pendulum could swing in the former?s favour as they still await the final outcome of an appeal against Bermuda Football Association?s ruling not to penalise Paget for fielding an ineligible player against the men in uniform during a league clash last October.

A Ministry of Sports arbitration tribunal has yet to make a decision over the matter with the season now reaching its climax.

However, an outright Colts win tomorrow would likely see them through as they have a far superior goal difference to Prospect.

As it now stands, the maximum amount of points both Colts and Prospect ? depending on the ministry?s Alternate Dispute Resolution?s (ADR) final ruling ? can attain is 38 while St.George?s can grab 36.

Leaders Rangers currently top the pile with 38 points and with a win tomorrow can finish on 41.