At least one Premier Division club will experience the humility of being dumped out of the FA Cup at the first hurdle when the competition kicks off tomorrow.

Five of the Island's top-flight clubs have been pitted in the preliminary round of the coveted competition against either Commercial or First Division rivals who always rise for the occasion in hopes of pulling off an upset over more fancied opponents on the day.

But Dandy Town and Devonshire Cougars — who have yet to lift the premier showpiece — won't have the luxury off going into a cup tie as clear-cut favourites when they lock horns in the FA Cup for the first time since Hornets edged the Big Cats 2-1 in extra time in a replay in 2003-04 to give coach Devarr Boyles his first major title at the helm of the team from St. John's Field.

Yet much has change since then with Cougars having established themselves as the team to beat following success in league and cup competitions while Hornets have clung to memories of yesteryear.

The two sides have already clashed twice this season, with the Big Cats coming out on top on each occasion with convincing 4-1 wins. But the visitors, who surrendered their Martonmere Cup title to PHC nearly a week ago, could find Town a tough proposition in their own backyard with so much at stake.

On both occasions Hornets managed to hang with Cougars for most of the distance only to falter in the latter stages as the Big Cats' counter attacking prowess shone through with influential captain Kwame Steede leading the charge.

Steede has been the driving force behind his team while sidekicks Domico Coddington and Raymond Beach continue to find their way.

If there are any alarm bells ringing at the Den these days then it would have to be for the once feared Beach who appears to have lost his way around goal and is yet to figure out life without Heys Wolfe who will be keen to spring one over his old team when the ball drops tomorrow.

Hornets have also struggled in the absence of elder statesman Carlos Smith but in seasoned campaigners Ottis Steede and Lloyd Holder and the youthfulness of Seion Darrell and Anwton Russell have sufficient firepower in their arsenal capable of sending the Big Cats back to the Den for the second straight weekend licking their wounds.

Also at St. John's Field newly crowned Martonmere Cup champions PHC will renew their bid to become the first club to lift 10 FA Cup titles when they take on Commercial League outfit Vasco.

Elsewhere, struggling Somerset Trojans host Commercial KO Cup champions Key West Rangers at Somerset Cricket Club in what could turn out to be a very tricky encounter for the nine-time FA Cup champions still smarting from a humbling 7-0 thrashing at the hands of Zebras.

First Division pace-setters Hamilton Parish will be out for revenge when they journey to Bernard Park tomorrow to take on hosts North Village. In recent years the two clubs have met twice in competition with the Reds winning on both occassions.

Village defeated Hot Peppers 2-0 in the 2004-05 FA Cup final and the very next year hammered the First Division outfit 9-0 in the semi-final of the competition to go on and celebrate a first triple crown (League, FA Cup and Friendship Trophy) since 1977-78.

But having got their 2007-08 campaign off to a flyer, Parish now aim to settle an old score with their cup nemesis who were dumped out of the competition last season by First Division conquerors St. George's Colts in their own backyard.

Other FA Cup ties see Paget hosting Lobster Pot at White Hill Field, MR Onions taking on Social Club at Lords and Somerset Eagles pitted against St. George's All-Stars in the second match of a double header at White Hill Field.