The Martonmere Cup fate of defending champions Devonshire Colts, 2001/02 winners Devonshire Cougars and three-time winners Boulevard Blazers hangs in the balance.

All three clubs suffered losses during their opening fixtures and must now dig deep in order to avoid being eliminated from this season's competition.

Presently, only Group A winners North Village and Group B leaders Somerset Eagles have booked their passage through to the next phase.

Win, draw or lose this weekend, Eagles will advance thanks to their superior goal average. Colts square off against Boulevard (2 p.m.) in a winner takes all crunch match on Sunday at BAA Field while Cougars face the high flying Eagles (4 p.m.).

Outright victory for either Colts or Blazers would ensure their place in the final four - though a single point in Boulevard's case would suffice.

"I don't really sense any pressure amongst the guys," said Colts stalwart Shannon Burgess, alluding to Sunday's all-important match.

"Of course we would like to defend our trophy, but I think our performance in the league is paramount. We are 0-2 for the season and we are looking to rectify that and maybe get a win under our belt so that we can look forward to the league campaign on a good note."

Blazers, on the other hand, insist they won't be taking Sunday's match nor their opponents lightly.

"As long as our players don't go out there looking to play for a draw, we should be alright," said Blazers' spokesman, Amon Brown.

"If we go out there looking for a win and end up with a draw then fine. But if we go out there and play cautiously looking for a draw then it may cost us to lose out all together. So we won't be taking the cautious route - we want an all out win."

Cougars, meanwhile, are facing an uphill climb. Albert Smith's team have to defeat Eagles by three clear goals in order to advance.

But coach Smith reckons his troops will be up for the challenge.

"Any competition we go into, we go into it looking to win it," he said.

"Our morale is still high and we have been working on a few things in training this week. But overall, I think we will be alright."

Smith is confident his players can improve on last Sunday's disappointing 2-1 defeat against Dandy Town.

"I think we started off a bit slowly last Sunday," Smith recollected. "I think from the very start our intensity level just wasn't there. We must take the initiative. It's all just a matter of players adjusting and communicating on the field. But we have been addressing these things in training and the guys are raring to go."

Should Cougars prevail, then 1999/2000 winners Town, another team whose fate hangs in the balance, will be eliminated. Town completed the round robin phase with a 1-1 record.

GROUPA

P W D L F A Pts

North Village 2 2 0 0 5 3 6

Boulevard 1 0 0 1 2 3 0

Devonshire Colts 1 0 0 1 1 2 0

Somerset Eagles 1 1 0 0 3 0 3

Dandy Town 2 1 0 1 2 4 3

Devonshire Cougars 1 0 0 1 1 2 0