Four of the Island's top teams go into today's Belco Cup with one emerging victorious in tomorrow's final.

Defending champions St.David's, Southampton Rangers, Western Stars and St.George's will all bid for supremacy as the season's first trophy goes up for grabs.

On current form, Southampton enter the competition - which involves last season's leading four league teams - as firm favourites to finally break through and lay claim to their first major title since 1999.

However, their path to glory won't be easy as Rangers must first dispose of champions St.David's at Somerset Cricket Club today.

The Islanders are bidding for a hat-trick of titles, a feat only St.George's have managed to achieve - in 1988, 1989 and 1990.

Southampton recorded a 64-run win over St.David's last month during the two clubs' only meeting this season. And with skipper Janeiro Tucker and the Islanders' Glen Blakeney having returned to top form with the bat, today's semi-final clash promises to be close as a young St.David's side go up against their more seasoned opponents from the west.

Today's contest marks Southampton's second appearance in the competition since 2000 when they lost by 47 runs to Stars in the final.

In today's other semi-final match at Lord's - the venue for tomorrow's final - last year's beaten finalists Stars take on five-time champions St.George's.

The east enders managed to beat the defending league champions by 47 runs last weekend at Lord's and if history is anything to go by, then St.George's must be considered as firm candidates to wrest the title.

St.George's have won the prestigious crown five times and have appeared in eight finals.

So far, Charlie Marshall and company have enjoyed a solid start to the season to remain in the thick of the league title race at the half-way mark.

Stars, meanwhile, want to set the record straight on their third attempt. Albert Steede's urban warriors have appeared in the last two finals only to be beaten by St.David's.

Stars enter the competition somewhat shaken, having already suffered three losses this season and will be without the services of key all-rounder Saleem Mukkudem and spin ace Hasan Durham who are both overseas.

But on a brighter note, veteran Arnold Manders and last year's top wicket taker Dwayne (Sluggo) Leverock return to the line-up and will be expected to shoulder the bulk of the load along with skipper Steede as Stars bid for a fifth title.

Stars have appeared in the final a record ten times.