Top seeds PHC Zebras and North Village Rams will go head-to-head when the 2007-08 Premier's Dudley Eve Cup commences under the lights at the Den next Thursday.

Not much has separated Premier Division leaders PHC and hot pursurers Rams who are set to clash for the third time this season. Last September the two sides played to a scoreless draw in the Martonmere Cup and followed that result up a month later with a 1-1 stalemate in the league at Southampton Oval.

Up until last weekend Zebras, who lifted a third Martonmere Cup title last month, remained unbeaten in all matches but came crashing with a thud at St.John's Field courtesy of a 2-0 defeat at the expense of a largely youthful Dandy Town outift.

Rams also dropped their first league points of the season on the road against Devonshire Colts in their last outing and like Zebras will also seek to rebound when the ball drops at the Den next week to signal the start of a competition honoring the father of former PHC coach and Bermuda Football Association (BFA) administrator Alfie Eve. Premier's Dudley Eve Cup action then continues December 23 at Lords where last year's beaten finalists Devonshire Cougars take on Devarr Boyles' Hornets.

The eventual winners of the Zebras/Rams and Cougars/Hornets clashes will then meet each other on December 26 at Wellington Oval with the winner of that clash automatically advancing to the January 1 final at Somerset Cricket Club. Defending Dudley Eve champions Somerset Trojans did not qualify for this year's tournament, which sees the eventual winners pocket $3,000 in prize earnings.

Early season pacesetters Hamilton Parish, Southampton Rangers and Somerset Eagles have all qualified for the First Division Dudley Eve, leaving fourth and fifth placed St. David's and Wolves to battle it out for the sole remaining berth next Monday night at the Den.