The First Division top-of-the-table clash between Southampton Rangers and BAA tomorrow is set to go a long way to deciding who gets promotion.

BAA lead the division on goal difference over Paget Lions, while Rangers, still unbeaten, are just a point behind in the battle for the two promotion places.

“This season we got off to a good, really good start, performing well, training well and working hard,” BAA coach Kenny Thompson said. “We respect every opponent, the results that we have had we earned through hard work, but we don’t take any opponent lightly. There are other teams that have a similar amount of points.”

BAA will be boosted by the inclusion of late signing Drewonde Bascome to their squad for tomorrow, although goalkeeper Daniel Johnson is still not fit enough.

“Daniel is still recovering from knee surgery so it’s too soon for him, but we’re very happy to have Drewonde in our squad,” Thompson said.

BAA are also two-times defending champions of the First Division Shield and will play Ireland Rangers in the quarter-finals next weekend. If they advance they will be able to call on some college students during the holiday period when the semi-finals and final are held.

“We approach all the competitions with respect for the game and will do our best,” Thompson said. “Normally we have a lot of players who come back and we look forward to having them as well.”

St George’s play host to Somerset Eagles at Wellington Oval in another crucial match, with the East Enders eager for victory as they have slipped seven points behind the leaders. St George’s lost successive matches to BAA, St David’s and Southampton Rangers before defeating Devonshire Colts in their most recent outing. Another defeat would virtually eliminate them from the promotion race, while victory for Eagles will keep them in the top four.

There was good news for St George’s when, the Bermuda Football Association confirmed that they were handed a 3-0 victory after Hamilton Parish failed to show up for their rescheduled match last month.

Eagles were relegated last season and, despite losing five players in the summer, are only three points behind the top two.

St David’s and Colts meet at Lord’s in another important match while Paget are away to Ireland Rangers. Bottom pair Wolves and Hamilton Parish face each other at Devonshire Rec, both looking for their first wins of the season.