Premier's Dudley Eve Cup qualification will be at a premium when league action resumes this weekend.

With two rounds of matches left to play in the Premier Division before the halfway stage of the season, time is running out for those clubs who still have some ground to make up in order qualify for the festive cup competition.

The Premier's Dudley Eve Cup is contested annually by the top four teams in the Premier and First Division at the halfway stage of the season, with the eventual winner in each division pocketing $3,000 in prize earnings.

Somerset Trojans were last year's winners but won't be back to defend their title this year. Winless in league play so far, Trojans have only managed to gather a dismal three -points from five matches to leave coach Dennis Brown pondering early retirement.

League leaders PHC Zebras can qualify for the Dudley Eve with victory over Boulevard while North Village can put one foot in the door with a win over Dandy Town this weekend.

But their task won't be an easy one as Blazers and Hornets are also in the hunt for Dudley Eve qualification as well as last year's beaten finalists Devonshire Cougars and FA Cup champions Devonshire Colts.

Only four points separates second-placed Rams from sixth-placed Colts who have impressed on their return to top flight football under the guidance of the temperamental Ray Jones.

Zebras travel to BAA to take on a youthful Blazers outfit who have held their own without suspended play maker Melchisedec Gibbons and late captain Shaki Crockwell, while Rams host cross-town rivals Hornets at Bernard Park.

Up West, Trojans host a Cougars side that have gone from red hot to luke warm in a matter of weeks at Somerset Cricket Club.

At nearby Malabar, visiting Colts should come away with maximum points against league whipping boys Ireland Rangers to keep their own Dudley Eve hopes intact. But they cannot afford to take anything for granted against their hosts who showed tremendous character last weekend by coming from three goals down to defeat X Roads 7-3 in the FA Cup.

The race for Dudley Eve qualification in the First Division could go right down to the wire with three rounds of matches to go before the Christmas break.

A resurgent Hamilton Parish currently top the pile with 17 points with only three -points separating second placed Southampton Rangers from fifth -placed St.David's.

Hot Peppers, who seem to have regained some of their sting, travel to Police Field to take on seventh-placed Prospect United while Rangers are away to unpredictable X Roads at Garrison Field.

Another surprise package this season is high flying Somerset Eagles who lock horns with St.David's at Lords while across the harbor St.George's Colts tackle Paget at Wellington Oval.

BAA host Social Club tonight at BAA Field while two-time defending First Division Dudley Eve champs Wolves have a bye this weekend.