Devonshire Colts will be faced with a blast from the past when they open the defence of the FA Cup against Robin Hood, the Commercial League champions, at White Hill field tomorrow.

Randy Darrell, the former Southampton Rangers and Bermuda goalkeeper, spent a few seasons at Colts in the mid-1990s but it will be the sight of Craig Smith, who played his entire career with the Hallowe'en Boys before deferring recently to Saturday soccer, in a Robin Hood outfit that will set the wheels of nostalgia in motion.

Smith, who is likely to start on the bench after injury, was the dominant personality in the Colts line-up before the emergence of Shannon Burgess, the present captain, and his free-kicks from anywhere inside 40 yards are the stuff of lore.

This, plus the fact that Hood have enjoyed a fair share success in this competition, evidenced further by their 4-1 dismantling of Paget in the first round, makes the 12.30 p.m. match-up a mouth-watering prospect for the neutral.

"Robin Hood are the most successful Commercial League team in the history of the competition, so obviously they will be looking for an upset," Burgess said yesterday. "It gives them added incentive."

It is no coincidence that Colts' recent upswing was timed with Burgess's return from injury. A 5-2 home defeat to Wolves, which was far more lopsided than the score suggests, threatened to knock them off course, but the ship was righted with consecutive league victories over Devonshire Cougars and Somerset Trojans.

Burgess added: "We have to execute on Sunday. We've gained a bit of momentum over the last few weeks but to have an unfavourable result on Sunday would be a huge setback."

Hood, as professional an outfit as you will find in the Commercial League, have scouted Colts carefully since the draw with coach Paul Scope earmarking playmaking midfielder Kuma Smith and striker Quincy Aberdeen for special attention.

"Kuma is deceptive," Scope said. "He collects the ball, moves it on and is very tidy. Everything seems to go through him. So obviously I'm looking for people like (Derek) Stapley to have a good match-up against him."

Stapley, who won two FA Cup titles with Vasco in the '90s playing alongside Hood team-mate Paul Towlson, is part of a four-man midfield that Scope hopes will shape the match.

"(Stapley, Jarlath McCabe, Alan Mooney and Donnie Smyth) are all fit lads and I think they will do all right in midfield," Scope said. "That's obviously the key battle. Although the big pitch might be to Colts' advantage, it's a long time since we lost at White Hill, going back a couple of years, so we're very confident.

"Having said that, we don't expect to win. You've always got a chance but, realistically, if they play at their best it doesn't matter how we play — they will beat us. But if not, and we play at our best, then we've got a chance."

The pick of the remaining ties sees Devonshire Cougars, the Martonmere Cup champions, taking on Wolves at Devonshire Recreation Club. Dennis Brown's team, still smarting from a 3-2 home defeat to North Village last weekend, are still without the services of Mark Ray and Chae Simmons, who is serving a three-match suspension, with further disciplinary measures pending.

Cougars, who are coming off a convincing win away to league champions Dandy Town have a fitness concern about player-coach Shawn Smith who suffered a knee injury. Maxwell Dill made a welcome return to the team, as a second-half replacement for the stalwart central defender.

There will be no holds barred in the west-end derby at White Hill field where Somerset Eagles, who sport one of three perfect records in senior football, entertain Somerset Trojans.

The home side will welcome the notion that the Trojans, who have long held bragging rights over their parish neighbours, are going through a period of uncertainty.

Dandy Town make the long trek west to take on First Division Ireland Rangers at Malabar field. Town, who have struggled to replicate their championship-winning form of last season, should be convincing winners but the Dockyard side have a proud and loyal home following and could make it interesting.

St. George's, bottom of the Premier Division, have a chance to get their season back on track when they journey to BAA field to face MR Onions, of the Commercial League. The east-enders have won only twice this term but should rate the edge against a steady Onions outfit.

North Village, last season's beaten finalists, have most comfortable-looking tie of the elite clubs — away to Prospect at Police field. The boys in blue have lost all but one of their league matches with the lone victory against Young Men's Social Club unlikely to throw fright into their favoured opponents.

The opener at Police field should be equally one-sided, as Boulevard face Prospect/Fire, the only side from the Commercial League B Division remaining in the draw.

St. David's entertain Tuff Dogs at Lord's and will be mindful of their first-round tie against similar quality opposition, BAA Wanderers, which required a replay to secure passage to the last 16.[bul]Dandy Town's Kevin Hurdle was placed on probation for one year as a result of findings from the BFA Disciplinary Committee and not suspended as was reported in yesterday's Royal Gazette.