History has a funny way of repeating itself.

The last time Dandy Town clinched the Premier Division title they came up against Southampton Rangers at Southampton Oval in 2000-01.

And this season it could turn out to be a case of deja vu for a Hornets side on the brink of a fourth championship.

If they can secure maximum points from Rangers on home turf at St. John?s Field tomorrow, the title will be theirs.

Town currently top the league standings with 28 points and with a game in hand ? they still have to play Somerset Eagles ? can obtain a maximum of 34 points, well beyond the reach of second-placed Devonshire Cougars (27 points) and third-placed Boulevard, who have 25.

The most points Cougars can obtain is 30 while Blazers can only snare 28.

Cougars host Boulevard at the Den tomorrow and anything short of victory for either side would also spark celebrations at nearby St.John?s Field in the event Town take at least a point from a Rangers side already assured of Premier Division football next season.

But it?s a safe bet that Hornets won?t be looking for merely a share of the points, instead looking to put the lid on a fourth crown which would enable them to concentrate their efforts on next month?s FA Cup showdown with Cougars at the National Sports Centre.

However, they might encounter stubborn resistance from a Rangers team bolstered by the return from suspension of striker and former Hornet Janeiro Tucker, who will be playing for pride.

?Rangers have been a thorn in our side for many years and at no point will we take them lightly. The nucleus of their team, which includes four national squad members, speaks for itself,? said a cautiously optimistic Western Stars Sports Club president Cal Blankendal.

?The team?s confidence is high but we?re not over confident and having the opportunity to win the title with one match in hand is definitely an advantage for us,? he added.

?But our senior players continue to stress that we are not a championship team until we have actually won the championship. The coaching staff and the players have placed themselves in an excellent position to march towards their objectives.?

For the second year in succession, Cougars will have to rely on another team in order to clinch a maiden league title.

The Devonshire club will have to get by Boulevard tomorrow and then hope Rangers and Eagles can put an end to Town?s unbeaten league record as well as their championship hopes.

Blazers, likewise, are facing an almost impossible task as they must win heavily against Cougars and hope Town lose their remaining fixtures by a considerable margin.

In remaining league matches with relegation implications, Devonshire Colts? bid to avoid the drop will be severely tested at White Hill Field against a North Village side who will use this game as a warm-up to next month?s Friendship Trophy final against Eagles. Other than that, Village having nothing else to prove while Colts have everything to play for with their Premier Division status on the line.

Anything short of an outright win for Colts would open the door for relegation escape artists Eagles.

The West End side, who grabbed a valuable point off Blazers last weekend to keep their survival hopes alive, play at Lord?s against First Division-bound Hamilton Parish and will be heavily favoured to come away with maximum points.

Eagles also have a game in hand over Colts.

Play in the First Division, meanwhile, will be nothing but a formality as PHC and Somerset Trojans booked passage back to the top flight weeks ago.

Zebras, who have clinched the championship, are away to Ireland Rangers at Malabar, Trojans are at home to Paget in what will be a prelude to the First Division Shield final while Wolves host St.George?s at the Den.

In a match that will decide who finishes at the bottom of the pile, St.David?s host Prospect at Lord?s.

Football fans are also reminded of today?s R.O. Smith Veterans All-Star match which takes place at Somerset Cricket Club. The event, featuring several of the Island?s former greats, kicks off at 3.15 p.m.