The new football season kicks off in earnest at BAA Field tonight with what promises to be an intriguing Martonmere Cup double-header.

Beginning at 7 p.m., last season?s Martonmere runners-up Devonshire Cougars are set to begin the new campaign against Somerset Eagles without prominent strike pair Heys Wolfe and Raymond Beach, while a bolstered Boulevard side take on last weekend?s beaten Charity Cup finalists Dandy Town in the 9 p.m. nightcap.

It remains to be seen how Cougars will fare in the absence of their key frontmen ? both sidelined through suspension ? with much of the load expected to fall on the shoulders of captain Kwame Steede and new acquisitions Aljame Zuill, Jamel Simmons and Kevin Simpson who all joined from relegated Devonshire Colts during the off-season.

Eagles, who lost the services of striker Stephen Burrows and midfielder Keion Simmons to neighbouring Somerset Trojans, will go into tonight?s match as underdogs, although with plenty of confidence having reached the semi-finals of the same competition at their first attempt a year ago.

Eagles defeated Town in their first Martonmere match last year and later in the season got by Cougars to book a second successive appearance in the Friendship Trophy Final.

Hornets, meanwhile, will be looking to bounce back from last week?s loss to current Martonmere Cup champions North Village.

Although Town showed a few glimpses of the form that saw them walk away with the Premier Division and FA Cup championships last season, the St. John?s Road club gradually faded away as the match wore on, giving Village an unprecedented third successive Charity Cup triumph.

Club president Cal Blankendal warned earlier this week: ?Don?t count us out yet!?

But Town will certainly find their work cut out against a Boulevard side strengthened by the arrival of Bermuda international Meshach Wade, former Trojan Marvin Belboda and the returning Dwight (Payback) Warren who looks set to end his playing days at the club where he enjoyed plenty of success in the 1990s.

Wade joins fellow Bermuda defender Stanton Lewis at the heart of Blazers defence while Belboda could form a threatening partnership with wiry striker Melchisdec Gibbons.