The stakes are getting bigger for high-flying Devonshire Cougars and lowly Somerset Trojans.

While the big cats could replace Dandy Town at the top of the Premier Division standings with a win tonight over Trojans at Somerset Cricket Club, the home team will be desperately seeking to grab maximum points in order to climb out of the cellar at the halfway stage of the season.

And although Trojans will have the home field advantage, their task won't be easy as they come up against a sizzling hot Cougars side who always seem to thrive playing under the lights.

Cougars have remained unbeaten since October 17 while Trojans stole a valuable point off Boulevard last Sunday.

Trojans thrashed Cougars 6-0 on the final day of the 2002-03 season but were still relegated to the First Division the last time the two clubs met ? a performance the West Enders would love to repeat.

But in order to achieve a favourable result, Trojans' porous defence, which has conceded 13 goals, will have to find a way to shut-out menacing striker Raymond Beach who has netted ten goals in the last three outings and 13 in six matches since returning from suspension in mid-October.

Cougars' new acquisition Aljame Zuill is also finding the back of the net with regularity while midfielder Domico Coddington is overdue for a big game.

Cougars presently trail Town by two-points while Trojans remain in seventh-place only two points adrift of bottom club Southampton Rangers.

Trojans have struggled so far this season, scoring only five goals in six outings while managing a sole win and a draw ? hardly the start coach Dennis Brown might have hoped for in only his second year back at Cricket Lane.

On paper, the West Enders seem to have a well -balanced unit but results on the pitch have often suggested otherwise.

Trojans picked up a few new faces over the off-season, former PHC striker Stephen Astwood and Hamilton Parish's Clevon Hill and Southampton Rangers' Rohaan Simons.

But Astwood has been sidelined through suspension, Hill out through injury while Simons has recently rejoined the team after going among the missing.

Trojans ranks will again be bolstered by UK-based players Damon Ming and Chris Moulder who have been in the team line-up for the past two matches.

A Trojans win would give team captain Karl Roberts, who turned 34 earlier this week, an ideal birthday gift and surely boost the club's confidence heading into the second half of the season.

But while Cougars have already secured a spot in the inaugural Champions Cup Tournament to be held over the festive period, with only four points to their credit, Trojans have absolutely no chance of appearing in the new tournament, something coach Brown might perceive to be a blessing in disguise.