With their league title hopes now appearing slim, North Village can instead turn their focus to bursting Devonshire Cougars' championship bubble while consolidating their own mid-table status when the two urban rivals lock horns tonight at the Den.

Village presently trail league leaders Dandy Town by seven points with only four matches remaining in their league season having taken 15 points from ten matches so far.

The maximum amount of points the Reds can now attain is 27, seven points fewer than the maximum amount third-placed Cougars can take from their remaining matches.

Town and Cougars also each have a game in hand over a Village side ? seeking to get back on track following a 1-0 loss in their previous league outing against Somerset Trojans ? and second-placed PHC Zebras.

Now all but assured of playing Premier Division football next season, Village could take on the role of spoilers tonight against a Cougars side ? still coming to grips with life without banned key players Raymond Beach, Omar Butterfield and Heys Wolfe ? and put a dent in the big cats' championship hopes.

Three late conversions saw Cougars edge past Southampton Rangers in their previous outing but it was a performance the big cats can ill-afford to repeat against a Village side overflowing with confidence following last weekend's inspired FA Cup semi-final win over Zebras.

Cougars got the better of Village last October in league play, however, the Reds managed to repay the favour in the Martonmere Cup semi-final en route to claiming a record eighth title overall.

And the Reds starting line-up from last Sunday should remain the same, although the playing status of team captain Ralph Bean Jr. remains doubtful after the inspirational skipper left the pitch with a suspected knee injury against PHC.

Bean's unavailability could pave the way for Quincy Paynter or even Nakia Smith ? absent from his team's recent FA triumph over Zebras ? to come in and pick up the slack.

Cougars on the other hand could welcome striker Aljame Zuill back from injury while young Chris Caisey, Kori Goddard, former Reds Domico Coddington and Neil (Diamond) Robinson and national team midfielder Kwame Steede will all be relied upon to come up trumps in the absence of the banned trio.

Tonight's Premier Division derby featuring Cougars and Village will be preceded by a First Division contest involving Wolves and shock FA Cup semi-finalists Hamilton Parish.