The champagne is on ice and party hats are at the ready.

But even with a victory tomorrow Devonshire Colts will have to wait another week to claim their first league title in 24 years.

Colts can officially eliminate both North Village and Dandy Town from contention with a victory over the Red Devils at Bernard Park. However, Vasco's win last night over Devonshire Cougars means that Colts will have to wait until at least next weekend to pop the champagne.

While recent times have seen the side dubbed `eternal bridesmaids' come up short at the final hurdle, it appears the `Gods' have finally seen fit to shine upon Colts.

It cannot be denied that the current leaders deserve the First Division championship, having sparkled during the second half of the season following a roller coaster beginning to the campaign.

Colts have not been beaten in league play since November 3 of last year, since then earning nine wins against two draws, their only blemish coming during the FA Cup when they were bundled out 5-3 by Boulevard at the semi-final stage.

By comparison Sunday's opponents, Village, also last tasted defeat in the league in 1996, ironically that loss coming at the hands of Colts back on November 24.

But no team wants another to use them as a springboard to a title and the Red Devils will do all they can to deny Colts the luxury of celebrating at Bernard Park.

And while the chances are slim of them not qualifying for next season's Martonmere Cup, Village would also want to put to rest any mathematical equations that might see them excluded.

For the likes of Craig Smith, Ray Jones, Jay Bean and old warhorse Lorenzo Symonds, Sunday could mark a fitting end to their careers and a rebirth of the winning tradition that Colts portrayed in the 1970s.

At the opposite end of the spectrum St. David's are likely to have their fate sealed as the team joining St. George's in descending to the Second Division just one year after being promoted.

Only a win by the Islanders over Dandy Town at Lord's and a loss by PHC to Southampton or vice-versa will prevent them being confirmed -- at least for another week.

The Zebras, on 18 points, and Southampton (20 points) are the only clubs St.

David's (11 points) can catch, but need to win all their matches to stand any chance of overhauling either of the pair.

Town needed to come from behind to beat St. David's 3-1 on Thursday night in a Friendship Trophy clash, however the St. John's Road team should be able to find a route around the home side.

To their credit coach Andrew Bascome's charges have shown quite a bit of fight throughout their campaign, but their inability to score goals and win close matches have constantly resulted in failure.

PHC and Rangers meet at PHC Stadium, with both having painted idyllic pictures during the course of the first half when they each had turns leading the division, only to fall from grace to positions of eighth and seventh respectively.

The other affair witnesses St. George's entertaining Boulevard in a near meaningless affair, with the Blazers' only incentive being a place in the Martonmere Cup and avoidance of injuries in the lead to the FA Cup final where they face Wolves.

In the Second Division one can rest assure that Hotels will achieve the championship when they host bottom club Prospect at St. John's Field.

The battle remains for second place, with Somerset to be tested by border rivals Somerset Eagles when they clash at White Hill Field, 3.00.

Trojans can move ahead and put pressure on idle Wolves if successful, but will not be looking past Eagles, as the term derby merely camouflages what is actually a war.

Hamilton Parish host Social Club at Wellington Oval in the other match.