North Village begin the defence of their Friendship Trophy title at the Den tomorrow. And they couldn’t have asked for tougher first round opponents.

Village lock horns with in-form Boulevard in a match that could go either way as Blazers’ recent 1-0 win over their cross-town rivals suggests.

Triple crown champs Village, however, have looked a shadow of their former selves with several key players out through injury, while Blazers have continued to go from strength to strength.

“Injuries have been our main setback this season. But then on the other hand Village have always been known to get off to a slow start,” said Reds teenage striker Keishen Bean.

“So there’s no need to press the panic button. Boulevard are a very good team and obviously we respect them as we do any other team.

“But at the same time I feel that we are the better team. And if we can come out with our full team then I’m positive we can beat them. It’s just a matter of us finding our team chemistry when everybody comes back.”

Little separated the two urban teams last week at BAA Field, other than Blazers’ skipper Shaki Crockwell’s superb first-half strike that secured his team maximum points.

And with so much at stake, tomorrow’s match could prove just as close, though Village will find their opponents billowing with confidence following back-to-back league wins over the Reds and Somerset Trojans.

“We’re definitely going into the match confident and it should be a battle,” commented Blazers and national team defender Stanton Lewis.

“It should be a very interesting match, and you can never take the defending champions lightly. But for us it’s a matter of taking things one match at a time and not looking beyond.

“The guys really want to win some silverware this season, and are very hungry for success.”

Village edged Dandy Town 2-1 in last year’s final to claim a seventh overall Friendship Trophy title and second in three seasons.

Boulevard’s sole Friendship title arrived during the 1984-85 season.

Elsewhere, eight-time Friendship champions Somerset have been pitted against nine-time winners of the competition PHC at Wellington Oval while Paget Lions tackle St.David’s Warriors at Southampton Oval and 2004-05 champions Devonshire Cougars take on four-time Friendship winners Dandy Town at Somerset Cricket Club.

Trojans edged Zebras 2-1 at Somerset Cricket Club to avenge October’s Martonmere Cup semi final loss earlier this month, Lions also edged St.David’s 2-1 at White Hill Field the last time these two teams met in the league, while Town and Cougars played to an exciting draw 1-1 at the Den late last month.

All Friendship matches will be preceded by First Division Shield encounters.

At Wellington Oval, Social Club meet Devonshire Colts, Prospect United take on Ireland Rangers at Southampton Oval and St.George’s Colts take on Somerset Eagles for the second time in four days at the Den.

The remaining Shield match sees Wolves pitted against Southampton Rangers at Somerset Cricket Club.

Promoted Paget were last year’s Shield champions, while X Roads, who have a bye tomorrow along with Hamilton Parish, finished runners-up in their first appearance in a domestic cup final since joining Bermuda Football Association ranks.