After failing to advance from the group stage of the Martonmere Cup, Devonshire Colts are gearing themselves for what will be a tough job of repeating as First Division champions when the league campaign gets underway this weekend.

Colts could only manage one point from their two matches in the cup competition, of which they were the inaugural winners in 1972. They have already seen, as champions, that teams will be gunning for them this season.

"I have advised my players that it's going to be more difficult to repeat (as champions),'' said coach Vic Ball who led the team to their first league title in 24 years last season.

"Obviously all the attention is going to be focused on them, having won the league last year. But we've come back with the same squad, it's just Ellington Weldon who is missing and who is obviously a miss. But we have picked up Tito Smith who has already proved a tremendous acquisition.'' Colts begin defence of their title on Sunday against Southampton Rangers, a team who, despite also failing to reach the semi-finals of the Martonmere Cup, impressed Ball in the two matches in which he saw them.

"The fact that we have the same squad, the guys are aware of the objectives and the pressure that's going to be put on them,'' said Ball. "From what I've seen during pre-season training and up to this point, I think they are up to the task. But you also have other teams out there with very good squads and they won't simply let us walk away with the league.'' Colts lost their opening match of the season 1-0 to Dandy Town before blowing a 2-0 lead against North Village on Saturday night and having to settle for a 2-2 draw which was not enough to take them through to the last four.

The Martonmere Cup has been known to provide teams with early and expensive injuries so being eliminated can be a blessing, although Ball admitted: "Obviously we would have loved to have gone on to the final and won it''.

What Colts did pick up was two red cards in the Dandy Town match as Jay Bean and Jermaine Belboda were ejected and missed the match against Village.

"I have never seen Dandy Town play as hard as they did against us that night, but I guess it was a matter of survival for them, too,'' said the Colts coach.

"We're very much aware that teams will be coming so we're preparing as best we can to give a good account of ourselves.'' "Village played well enough to get a draw and go through to the next round while Town played well enough to have won. Mind you we were down to nine men but I think the team showed tremendous character and resilience to keep the score as it was.'' Derek Wright, who has returned from St. George's, has not played for Colts so far because of work commitments, but he is due to train this week and could be in the squad this weekend. After the Rangers match, Colts take on PHC and then Village, according to the schedule released yesterday by BFA.

Matches are also scheduled for this Friday (Somerset v Hotels) and Saturday (PHC v Devonshire Cougars).

Other matches on Sunday will see Dandy Town playing Vasco in the match of the day and Boulevard playing North Village.