Dandy Town can take another significant step towards achieving the coveted league and FA Cup double when they clash with First Division rivals Somerset Trojans in the first cup semi-final at Wellington Oval tomorrow.

Town remain one of the hottest teams on the Island at present, and will enter tomorrow?s contest as firm favourites to book passage through to a second FA Cup final in three seasons.

The St.John?s Road club received the perfect fillip ahead of the match with a recent 3-0 demolition of fellow Premier Division title contenders Devonshire Cougars while their West End counterparts have remained idle since February 22.

Town hoisted the cup in 1986-87 ? their sole triumph in the prestigious competition ? and last appeared in the final in 2001-02 under then coach Andrew Bascome.

Only striker Carlos Smith remains of Hornets? 1987 cup-winning team, though he along with promising defender Randy Swan are doubtful to start tomorrow after picking up injuries during recent matches against Cougars and Somerset Eagles.

Town have appeared in six FA Cup finals and should make it seven given that proven match winner Khano Smith appears to have regained his best form. The Trojans defence will also have to keep a close eye on speedy forward Seyoum Tuzo and Jared Peniston while Smith ? if recovered ? could prove to be more than a handful with his enormous experience and electrifying pace.

?You can?t underestimate any team in domestic football, especially a team that is coached by Dennis Brown who has a lot of experience and has done a terrific job at Somerset this year,? said Western Stars Sports Club president Cal Blankendal.

?But I think we have an advantage in our coach Devar (Boyles) who is a great tactician, and I am sure he will have some tactical plans which will work to our advantage on the larger pitch at Wellington Oval.?

Blankendal reckoned his club had an added advantage with their ?speedy and very skilful players?, and he remained cautiously optimistic over the availability of both Smith and Swan.

?Nothing has been set in stone as of yet, and those two players are doubtful. But for a game of this magnitude I am sure they will do their utmost to participate if they are deemed fit,? he added.

The club executive refused to buy into the argument that his team would be heavily favoured to advance.

?We are going into the match to win it regardless of whether we are the underdogs or favourites. The only added pressure for us is the fact we have been in numerous finals and haven?t won. But this is a new crop of players, so we intend to give it our all and may the better team win.?

Obstructing Town?s path to the final is a Trojans club richly steeped in FA Cup tradition. Somerset have appeared in 11 finals, captured three consecutive titles from 1967-68 to 1969-70 and are currently tied with the most wins in the competition (nine) with PHC Zebras.

The last time Trojans won the cup was against Town in 1989-90.

While Hornets are expected to be at or near full-strength, Somerset will have to play without the services of Dwight Basden ? who was a member of Trojans 1989-90 cup winning team alongside present coach Dennis Brown ? Richard Scott, Shawn Riley and promising striker Damon Swan, all through suspension.

?There is no pressure on us. We were not expected to be in the competition at this stage. But now that we find ourselves in this position we are going to be very competitive. Once you get to this stage it is the team who performs on the day who will be successful. Reputation will mean nothing on Sunday,? said Brown, who guided Wolves to the 1997 final.

And, while Town are favourites to win, they will have to take into account the fact that Trojans previously defeated Premier Division club Somerset Eagles ? a team that has triumphed over Town twice this season.

The Town-Trojans clash will be preceded by the women?s FA Cup semi-final between multiple cup winners Rude Girls and Dandy Stars.

Meanwhile, Bermuda Football Association have announced the date for the second FA Cup semi-final. Devonshire Cougars and Devonshire Colts will meet on Wednesday, March 24 at a venue still to be determined while the Women?s FA Cup semi-final featuring PHC and BISYS Royals will precede the Cougars-Colts game.

Next Tuesday will see Paget and Ireland Rangers meet in the First Division Shield semi-final while Cougars and Somerset Eagles will play in the Friendship Trophy semi-final at Devonshire Recreation Club.

Shield and Friendship Trophy action has also been pencilled in for March 25 with Trojans and PHC meeting in the Shield semi-final and North Village and Southampton Rangers facing each other in the Friendship semi-final, at a venue still to be determined.