With the race for the Premier Division championship set to go right down to the wire, red-hot title contenders Devonshire Cougars can become the fifth team to lead the table this season with victory tonight over relegated St.David’s at the Den.

The Big Cats are boiling over with confidence following Sunday’s conquest of Somerset Trojans in Somerset. It was a crucial win that enabled Cougars to remain hot on the heels of league leaders and perennial nemesis North Village to keep their championship hopes alive.

A win tonight would give Cougars a one-point lead over Village and keep the two clubs set on a collision course for a potential league decider at the Den on March 11 in the final round of the season should third-placed Boulevard lose any more ground.

Cougars currently lead Blazers by a slight goal-difference of plus one. Boulevard take on resurgent Dandy Town tomorrow night at BAA Field while defending league champions Village host the league’s other relegated team Paget Lions at Bernard Park on Sunday.

This season’s Martonmere Cup champions Cougars could possibly look to their youth tonight to get the job done in the absence of several key players against a Warriors side left with nothing else to play for other than pride. Overnight sensation Kor-Von Tucker is out injured, while strikers Raymond (Packy) Beach and Reggie (Ronaldo) Baker are also recovering from knocks. The prolific Beach did not play in Cougars’ convincing win against Trojans last weekend — a win that saw the urban team avenge January’s Dudley Eve Final loss at Wellington Oval.

The two teams will also lock horns in this month’s Friendship Trophy Final at the National Sports Centre (NSC). Teenager Lamar (Monty) Brangman might be again called upon to spearhead Cougars’ attack alongside skipper Kwame Steede, Kori (Chucky) Goddard and Chris Caisey — who seems to have cemented a permanent spot in the team. Wonder-boy Domico Coddington is yet to make a recovery from a foot injury which now threatens to keep the talented player sidelined for the remainder of the season.

Cougars have gone unbeaten since losing to Trojans on New Year’s Day. And with coach Andrew Bascome quietly orchestrating behind the scenes, they’ve placed themselves in position to have a good shot at clinching a second league title in three years overall.

Tonight’s Premier Division is to be preceded by a women’s league clash involving Lady Cougars and Lady Rams.