Dandy Town can distance themselves from the rest of the pack and avenge last month?s Martonmere Cup final loss when they lock horns against resurgent North Village at Bernard Park in tomorrow?s top Premier Division clash.

Hornets presently hold a two-point lead at the top of the table over second-placed Devonshire Cougars and a five-point lead over third-placed Boulevard.

They also have a game in hand over the big cats who will sit idle this weekend after handing Somerset Eagles a 5-3 defeat earlier in the week.

Undefeated in league play so far, Town are gunning for a sixth straight win against a Village side that haven?t lost a match since October 17.

It remains to be seen, however, if Hornets? menacing striker Khano Smith has shrugged off the effects of an injury picked up last week while representing Bermuda against St.Vincent in the ill-fated Digicel Cup tournament in the Caribbean.

But in the event Smith isn?t fit for tomorrow?s important clash, strikers Lloyd Holder, Kevin Hurdle or Lashun Dill could come in to fill the void created by the pacy frontman?s absence.

Since last September, Town and Village have met each other on three occasions with the Reds twice emerging victorious.

Now Town will be given the opportunity to even the season series and also stay on course for a second successive league title.

But they will have to silence a Village team that have quickly risen from the ashes to place themselves back in the hunt for league championship honours.

Since last month?s Martonmere Cup triumph, Village have had their ranks bolstered by the late arrivals of Nakia Smith and ?keeper Adrian Burrows while speed merchant Kevin Jennings has also come out of exile.

Hornets will also have to keep an eye on Reds? captain Ralph Bean Jr, who has netted six goals in his team?s last four outings, along with national squad midfielder Jemieko Jennings who scored the winner against Town in the Martonmere Cup final ? albeit with a little help from Town ?keeper Antoine Lightbourne.

A Village win would blow the championship race wide open and hand Town only their second league loss since last February ? their sole league defeat en route to clinching a second league championship in four seasons.

At BAA Field, third-placed Blazers meet Somerset Trojans for the second time in four days in a match they must win in order to keep pace with the frontrunners heading into the Christmas break.

Very little separated the two teams in last Wednesday night?s Friendship Trophy contest at Somerset Cricket Club, Blazers prevailing via the penalty spot after 120 minutes of mostly uninspiring soccer.

And like Town, Blazers also have a game in hand over second-placed Cougars.

Trojans, meanwhile, will be desperately seeking to get things going in what has so far been a dismal return to top flight football. Somerset have only managed one win this season and remain just a single point off the bottom of the standings.

And if the West Enders are to avoid a speedy return to the First Division, then they will have to quickly pull up their socks and try to get the ball rolling before the break.

Elsewhere, sixth-placed PHC Zebras will attempt to maintain their upward thrust and should overpower a Southampton Rangers squad that remains winless and rooted at the bottom of the pile at Southampton Oval.

Zebras are currently on a three-game win streak and haven?t been defeated since October 31.

In First Division action, high-flying Ireland Rangers can open up a seven-point lead at the top of the table with a win over Paget, who failed in midweek to make up ground to the leaders.

Paget host Rangers at White Hill Field while fellow promotion hopefuls Devonshire Colts should keep pace with the frontrunners with a win over lowly X Roads Warriors at BAA Field.

Other weekend fixtures see Hamilton Parish hosting Social Club at Lords, Prospect and Wolves clashing at Police Field and St.David?s hosting St.George?s at Lords in an all-East End derby.

Ireland Rangers and St.David?s emerged victorious in First Division action at Somerset Cricket Club on Thursday night.

The Islanders outscored Hamilton Parish 4-3 while Rangers thrashed Social Club 4-0.