It may have been eight long seasons ago, but many still remember that March day in 1991 when Robin Hood almost made FA Cup history by becoming the first Commercial League team to reach the FA Cup final.

PHC shattered their dream that day when they won 3-0 at St. David's in the semi-finals. Now the two teams meet again, and even though it will only be the first round tomorrow, the tie at Southampton Oval is expected to be an intriguing one.

Only a couple of players from the Hood team that year -- Colin McQueen and Alex McLaughlin -- remain while most of the current PHC squad were not even playing senior football back then.

It will be a classic youth versus experience match-up. And while McQueen accepts the nine-time champions, PHC, now back in the Second Division, will be the favourites, he also knows the joint Commercial A leaders are quite capable of an upset.

"I think they are the favourites, they are younger, fitter and probably better allround,'' the veteran defender acknowledged.

"Obviously they are favourites but it's a one-off cup tie and there is a bit of experience in our side, which may be a polite way of saying we're an old team. But when you've got guys around like that you've always got a chance.'' The fact that the Zebras are not the team they once were should also give rise to Robin Hood's hopes of pulling off the upset they didn't manage seven years ago.

"We look back and use that as motivation every year when we play back in the FA Cup,'' said McQueen. "We think back to that good cup run and what a great day we had and that it is definitely achieveable if you apply yourself.

"I think that was the best team we've had since I've played with the club, from fitness and experience, but we've still got a good group of guys this year.'' It has long been accepted that the top teams in the Commercial League are certainly on par with the teams in the Second Division, which always makes those sides a bit apprehensive about meeting Commercial teams in the cup.

Derek Stapley, now of Vasco but player-coach of Robin Hood during their glorious cup run, thinks Hood can spring an upset.

"The one thing they'll (Hood) struggle with is the speed, because PHC are a really young squad,'' says Stapley whose former Vasco team-mate Paul Towlson is playing for Hood this season. Towlson scored a hat-trick in the 5-1 win over Prison Officers last weekend.

"He's an attacking centre half, a big roamer,'' Stapley joked.

"The big advantage the Bermuda players have over the expats is their first touch is much better, we are used to playing in heavy, muddy and sloggish fields.

"You find every three or four years somebody has a good run so I think they are overdue.'' BAA Wanderers produced the first upset recently when they stopped Second Division Prospect in the elimination round and Hood and Fire Service, who meet Social Club tomorrow, will be looking to do the same. Fire and Hood are joint leaders of Group A with maximum points from three games and are both averaging three goals a game.

PHC have the option of calling on one or two players from their Commercial team, the Raiders, who top the Group B standings.

Brian Anderson and striker Des Minors, who knows a thing or two about scoring against Commercial teams, are two who come to mind.

There are nine Commercial teams chasing places in the next round and of the eight matches only one -- St. George's and St. David's in the east end derby at Wellington Oval -- is an all-Second Division tie.

The two teams met recently in the league when St. David's squeezed out a 2-1 win. It could be that close again this time.

The other interesting ties will see Exiles, second in Group B and the top scorers in the division, meeting Second Division side Somerset Eagles in the opening match at Bernard Park prior to the Social Club-Fire tie.

Ireland Rangers, who switched from the Commercial to Second Division this season, should be favoured over winless Commercial team, Bermuda Pest Control, in the second match at Somerset. In the first match there MR Onions, third in Group A, should get the nod over last-placed team in Group A, Prison Officers.

The Mariners-Valley tie at Southampton Oval could be a close one. Mariners have lost all three matches in Group A while Valley are fresh off a 7-1 hammering of Somerset Extros last weekend, their first win of the season.

Paget are another team facing tricky Commercial opponents in Lobster Pot in the lone match at White Hill Field.