BAA coach John Doran may find himself in the thick of the action tomorrow when his side take on FA Cup holders North Village in the first round of this year's tournament.

For Doran, an Irishman who used to play for Bray Wanderers in the League of Ireland, doubles up as BAA's goalkeeper.

"I am looking forward to it. It's always a challenge," said the 41-year-old after taking training earlier this week.

Calling it a challenge might be somewhat of an understatement, especially after Village, last year's League champions, come into the game on the back of a 3-0 spanking of Devonshire Cougars in the final of the Martonmere Cup on Tuesday.

However, Doran believes BAA can be competitive, especially as they are not in bad form themselves, top of the Commercial Division having conceded just three goals in five games.

"It's down to everyone on the team. It's down to everyone doing their job and I am there to do mine also," he said of their performance so far this season.

While Village have dangermen in the shape of Dwight Warren and Ralph Bean Jnr, BAA have their own sharpshooter in Jamahl Mills.

The striker, who scored in the 1-0 win over Lobster Pot last weekend, was looking to move on during the summer but finds himself back at BAA after a switch to Magnum Force collapsed when the team folded without kicking a ball.

Doran says their loss is definitely BAA's gain.

"Jamahl was the top scorer in the Commercial League last year," he said. "He was looking to move up but things fell through. He signed for Magnum Force after they approached him to go and play but they folded.

"So we have got him back and we are delighted that we are going to get another season at least out of him."

Doran said Mills was one of a number of local youngsters who were making a name for themselves at the club ? a policy he strongly believed in.

"Over the years the ex-pat community has dwindled a bit with regards to football," he said. "So I have been doing my best to try and get the young Bermudian guys in and get them interested in a local club.

"The FA Cup is an opportunity, if they want to move on, to showcase what they can do."

Doran said tomorrow's game, which he described as a "glamour tie", would be by far the toughest his side had had so far this season.

"By all accounts they (Village) played very well (on Tuesday). They knock the ball around well and they are quick and so we have to try and close them down and try and stop that," he said. "The only way to do that is to get tight to them.

"It's going to be difficult under the circumstances. They are going to be a little bit fitter than us, they are a bit younger, so we are under no illusions but we will go out and give it a go."

Observers may think the bumpy BAA pitch may be an advantage for the home side, especially as Village are more used to the relatively flat confines of Bernard Park, but Doran disagrees.

"We don't like playing here either to be quite honest," the coach said jokingly. "We actually play better away from home."

Asked whether he thought BAA would be entering the second round draw, Doran was realistic.

"Realistically? No, I don't think so," he said. "But stranger things have happened. If we catch them on an off day, sneak one in and defend for 90 minutes . . ."

Other games see Boulevard take on Robin Hood also at BAA, Devonshire Cougars take on Wolves at Devonshire Rec., Valley tackle Paget at Prospect, Key West face Ireland Rangers at St. John's and Tuff Dogs play MR Onions at Prospect. Dandy Town's clash with Prison Officers was called off yesterday when the latter defaulted.