North Village captain Tre Ming said his team would be looking to “make a statement” in their exciting top-of-the-table Premier Division clash with leaders Devonshire Cougars at Bernard Park today, which will have a strong bearing on the title race.

Kenny Thompson’s team suffered their first defeat of the season against champions PHC Zebras in their previous league outing, which Cougars capitalised on to go two points clear the top of the standings at the midway stage of the season.

However, Ming is confident he and his team-mates can quickly turn their fortunes around and come away with the desired outcome to get their title bid back on track at the first opportunity.

“Our main focus is to gain all three points and we are confident, hungry and looking to make a statement,” the experienced midfielder told The Royal Gazette. “Hopefully the right one will be made tomorrow.

“Each game is huge but tomorrow’s is vital in our goal for the league. Nine matches to become league champs, one game at a time, and tomorrow is crucial.”

Even though Village have won the previous two meetings between the clubs this season, Ming concedes the hosts have their work cut out for them against their fellow title contenders.

“Cougars, to me, are favourites and definitely a dark horse team,” he added. “You never know what they’ll actually be like except they’ll work for 90 mins, which I love about them.”

Village are on a two-game losing streak, having also lost to Zebras in the Friendship Trophy semi-finals over the festive period.

Ming is adamant he and his fellow team-mates have put their recent disappointing showings behind them and are eager to get themselves back on solid footing.

“We are disappointed in ourselves because we dropped the ball in the effort department and that was our downfall,” he said. “Credit to PHC.

“Training has been good and we are all dialled in and looking to be better.”

The game kicks off at 3pm.

Elsewhere today, champions Zebras will be keen to stay in the thick of the title race when they host relegation-threatened Somerset Trojans at PHC Field at 9pm in their second meeting in six days.

Quincy Hunt’s team have a psychological advantage over their rivals having edged them 3-2 to clinch a record fourteenth Friendship Trophy title at Wellington Oval on New Year’s Day.

However, captain Daren Usher said PHC were not underestimating their opponents despite their league struggles.

“Somerset have shown they are not a pushover team despite their current standings,” he said. “So we can’t underestimate them and need to still put our best foot forward going into this match.”

Third-placed Zebras trail leaders Cougars by three points and have gone from strength to strength as the season has progressed to stay in the hunt.

“It’s time for us to turn our focus back to the league and we have put ourselves in a good position going into the second half of the season,” Usher added.

“It’s now about us keeping the pressure on the teams above us.”

Trojans are second from bottom, four points adrift of safety, and will be keen to come away with a favourable result to bolster their hopes of survival in the top flight.

Premier Division action continues tomorrow with bottom team X-Roads Warriors hosting Paget Lions at Lord’s in St David’s.

Like Trojans, X-Roads will be keen to make inroads in the standings and steer clear of the relegation zone.

Landlords St George’s Colts host tenants Hamilton Parish at Wellington Oval, while Young Men’s Social Club will square off with Dandy Town at Police Field.

Only a point separates eighth-placed St George’s from fifth-placed Parish, who are three adrift of fourth-placed Paget, heading into Sunday.

The First Division title race also heats up with unbeaten leaders Devonshire Colts hosting nearest rivals Robin Hood at Police Field tomorrow.

Colts have a healthy nine-point advantage heading into the intriguing clash and will be keen to get back to winning ways having lost 3-1 to St David’s Warriors in the Shield final at Wellington Oval on New Year’s Day.

Elsewhere tomorrow, Somerset Eagles host Ireland Island Rangers at White Hill Field, while St David’s will host Southampton Rangers at Lord’s.

Boulevard can leapfrog idle Wolves into third when they travel to Goose Gosling Field today to face lowly Vasco at 9pm.