North Village skipper Sammy DeGraff has conceded that his men need to win their league match tomorrow against champions Devonshire Cougars at Bernard Park if they are to remain serious contenders for this season's title.

With the title race heating up and seven teams still capable of lifting the championship, victories will be at a premium in the second half of the season if any side want to rise above the rest.

Village are famous for having strong second halves of season and finishing their campaign strongly.

Knowing the pedigree of his team and the history on their side, the Rams skipper feels now is the time to make their move towards the top with crucial matches on the horizon.

"It is a very important game for us, we certainly can't afford to lose the match," said DeGraff. "If we lose we aren't out of it but it will put us behind the eight ball.

"We have beat them the last two times and they got us in the league the first time and they have a few players back like Domico (Coddingon) and Aljame (Zuill), so it will be an interesting game.

"They do have a few special players so it could be a game that could be 3-0 or 1-0.

"However, we won't be out of it when you consider everyone is beating everyone and we still have to play PHC, Dandy Town and some others who are in the title race.

"There are seven teams really in the hunt but at our club we are known to make a push in the second half of the season and that's what we will be looking for this time around."

DeGraff has missed training this week and is currently battling flu-like symptoms in his hope to get on the pitch but has heard from team-mates that training has been intense and strategic in their hopes of leapfrogging the champions tomorrow.

One reason why the side are in the thick of the title race is the strength of their defence, which has conceded only 10 goals all season– the same as Cougars.

Yet while they aren't allowing teams to score they have found the going tough at times in their pursuit of goals. Their current league position has much to do with their inability to finish off teams.

But given their recent form, the former Bermuda Hogges midfielder is confident that they have what it takes to make it to the finish line first.

"I have been a little bit under the weather this week and haven't been able to get to training but from what I have heard we are preparing for this one well knowing the title race is heating up right about now.

"Our defence has been one of our strong points this season and some people haven't realised that we also have Sean Fubler who came over from PHC and that helps us in that department.

"We have been hitting and missing in the scoring department, the likes of Ralph Bean jr. hasn't quite been scoring the goals he normally does but we aren't worried about that and the team who takes their chances will win the game.

"There isn't any one team out there that you can say 'they are the team to beat' so we can win this league if we play to our level.

"We are pleased with our recent performances. When you look a our cup form and other things like that, we have beaten a lot of team that are above us so we will have added confidence when going into these matches."

Another match on tap for tomorrow will see league leaders Dandy Town hosting Somerset Eagles with revenge on their mind after falling 3-2 at White Hill Field in the reverse fixture last year.

A relegation six-pointer will also headline a weekend of fascinating games with Devonshire Colts travelling to Somerset Cricket Club to take on Somerset Trojans, while Hamilton Parish welcome PHC to Wellington Oval.

Southampton Rangers also tackle Boulevard at Southampton Oval.

All matches start at 3 p.m.