North Village will bid to add the second jewel of the coveted triple crown championship to their Premier Division title when they take to the National Sports Centre (NSC) for Sunday?s Friendship Trophy final against Dandy Town.

Village will enter the match on a high after applying the finishing touches to a third Premier Division championship in five seasons and seventh overall nearly two weeks ago.

Village are among an exclusive club to have achieved the coveted triple crown ? consisting of league, FA Cup and Friendship Trophy ? having previously done so in 1977-78 with a little help from Southampton Rangers.

The Reds clinched the Premier Division and FA Cup outright, but were declared winners of an abandoned Friendship Trophy final after Rangers ? led by the inspirational Edgar (Dillie Dick) Smith ? walked off the pitch in protest after their opponents were awarded a late penalty.

Somerset Trojans, PHC Zebras and Vasco da Gama are the only other local clubs to have won the triple crown championship, the latter the last to do so in 1997-98.

To date Trojans are the sole club to achieve the feat three times on the trot from 1967-68 to 1969-70.

Sunday?s showdown with cross-town rivals Hornets will be the third cup final meeting between the two in the last five seasons.

Village got the better of Hornets in the 2001-02 Friendship Trophy and FA Cup finals and also during the 2004-05 Martonmere Cup final.

Town?s sole win over the Reds in a major cup final arrived in the 1993-94 Dudley Eve Trophy final.

?Obviously we have placed ourselves in position and the triple crown is at the forefront of everybody?s mind. And with the league now over we can now concentrate on winning these last two trophies,? stated Village assistant coach Maceo Dill.

Village edged by Hornets by the odd goal ? scored in extra time ? during the 2004 Martonmere Cup final at Somerset Cricket Club.

And Dill expects Town to be just as tough on Sunday.

?Although we have beaten Town in our last three games, this will account for nothing coming into Sunday?s match,? he added. ?Obviously this is a chance for them to salvage their season and so I?m sure they?ll come out with the intent of beating the league champions. But we have already shown that we can deal with pressure situations all season long.?

Yet in order for his team to be successful Dill admits they will have to remain focused on their own game.

?We?re not bothered by the hype and pressure that comes with Sunday?s game and we have pretty much stepped up our preparations in training this week,? he said.

Dill said Village will be at full strength on Sunday with the gifted likes of Vernon Tankard and Jemeiko Jennings also presently training with the squad.

He also did not rule out the possibility of midfield schemer Taurean Manders returning from overseas for the occasion.

?We just about have everybody available for selection and at the moment everyone is fighting for a spot in Sunday?s team,? Dill said. ?We?ve won the league and we all know now what?s at stake and what we would like to achieve this season.?

Meanwhile, First Division champions Paget Lions will be gunning for Shield glory when they take on X Roads in Sunday?s opening clash at the NSC.

Paget last won the Shield in 1995-96 and were runner?s up to Trojans in 2003-04.

Victory over X Roads will also see Paget become the second club to win the league and Shield double behind Ireland Rangers who achieved the feat last season.