current top two teams, PHC and North Village.

But that doesn't mean that his Vasco team have given up the fight for a third straight league title.

A glance at the league table shows a six point gap between fourth-placed Vasco and leaders PHC, before the two teams do battle at Somerset tonight. A PHC win would eliminate Vasco from the race but victory for Vasco would put the defending champions right back in the running with three matches remaining.

"Realistically the championship should be decided between Village and PHC,'' said Rebello.

"We're the dark horses right now and we have done more than people thought we could do. Everybody wrote us off as relegation contenders, and the chance is still there because no one is safe right now.'' It is for that reason, moreso than another league title, that Vasco will be taking tonight's game very seriously. They are seven points clear of the relegation zone, still a win away from virtual safety.

"We need three points, maybe to make ground on the other contenders but definitely to get away from the relegation pack,'' said the coach.

"Our road to the championships definitely goes through PHC, Dandy Town and Village and if we accomplish that, then we'll deserve it.

"People don't like Vasco but over the last eight to 10 years we've been one of the most successful clubs on the Island.'' Vasco have probably surprised even themselves by remaining in the Premier Division title race for so long.

"We haven't had the depth but we can count ourselves lucky because it's been a mediocre season for all clubs,'' said Rebello.

"Village have the depth but haven't really seized the moment and taken command. By them not doing that it has given everybody else a chance.'' Added Rebello: "Mathematically we're still in it, mentally my players are in it and I'm in it with them. We've proven everybody wrong at this point and there's no way we'll let anybody say `I told you so', so we have to take the three points.'' Vasco have been boosted by the return from school of Clay Smith, a player capable of winning matches on his own, though the team will miss the suspended Kuma Smith.

"If Clay could lose 15 pounds I'm sure he could play up top alongside Shaun Goater without a problem,'' said Rebello.

"He's solid and strong and one of the better players on the Island.'' At the start of the season Vasco's squad was depleted so badly by transfers that the BFA had to relax the transfer rule to allow them to register the minimum 18 players. Even now, with injuries and loss of interest, their squad is only up to about 13 or 14 players.

The Zebras, meanwhile, have enjoyed a spectacular season in their first year back in the top flight. They led the Dudley Eve qualifiers over Christmas and after a slump over the new year, they have got their title push back on track.

PHC have put together another winning streak, though coach Sammy Swan concedes they still aren't playing their best football.

The team have been hit with injuries with defender Dano Outerbridge missing the last match while Stanton Lewis and Otis Steede are still recovering from injuries.

Striker Ricky Mallory, who dislocated his shoulder in the recent FA Cup loss to First Division team Social Club, resumed training last week and could be in the squad for tonight against his former team.

PHC had four players -- Steede, Lewis, Stephen Astood and Corey Dowling -- return yesterday from the Florida tour with the national team and under-23 teams, while Vasco had Keith Jennings and Clifford Roberts on that same tour.

"The pressure is really on PHC, they just came up but they are in first place,'' Rebello stressed.

"If they want to win the league they have to beat us. Wolves have a shot while Village are still in there. If they can't do the job then Wolves, Vasco or Dandy Town could slip in there.'' Tonight's opening match will be a top of the table women's clash between unbeaten PHC Teasers and defending champions Rude Girls whose only loss in the league came against the Teasers.

Silver lining: Vasco coach John Rebello would be happy this season with just one of the trophies his side picked up over the past couple of years.