Kyle Lightbourne has backed PHC to overcome their injury woes and return to winning ways when they face North Village in tonight's Dudley Eve curtain call at Devonshire Rec.

Defensive lynchpin Omar Shakir and Corey Dowling are both out through injury while Johnny Ball is also a doubt for the Zebras who will be looking to bounce back from their surprise defeat against Dandy Town in their last Premier League match.

One player set to return to the fold is Jeff Franklin, who missed Bermuda's double-header against St. Kitts because of injury with Lightbourne confident the former Tuff Dogs forward will be able to play some part against Rams.

"Our match with North Village is a chance for us to put our defeat against Hornets behind us with a good performance," said Lightbourne. "We've quite a few players missing through injury so I'll be changing things around a little bit and it will give some other guys an opportunity.

"Omar Shakir won't be involved while Johnny Ball is touch and go at the moment and has missed our last few training sessions. Corey Dowling is also out with a shoulder injury.

"It's important we get these players back as we're approaching the business end of the season, but Jeff Franklin should feature as he has been training this week."

Premier Division table-toppers PHC have already clinched one piece of silverware this season defeating Devonshire Cougars by way of a thrilling penalty shoot-out in the Martonmere Cup. Lightbourne is now challenging his charges to follow up that success by bringing home the Dudley Eve.

"We've experienced a final victory this season in the Martonmere Cup and we'll certainly be aiming for another in the Dudley Eve," said Lightbourne. "But it's sure to be a tough competition and all the teams are going to be fighting for it, there'll be no easy games.

"It's always important you get off to a good start in the Dudley Eve because if you don't, you can end up playing a lot of games and that's not ideal as we enter the second half of the season."

Former national team boss Lightbourne, who also coaches Bermuda Hogges, attended both St. Kitts matches, along with Hogges president Shaun Goater and co-owner Paul Scope, and was impressed with what he saw.

"I thought the team played very well in Sunday's 4-2 victory where there was a better balance about the side," he said. "Things weren't quite there in the previous game but that's understandable because it was the coach's first game and sometimes players are trying too hard to impress.

"I was pleased for Aljame Zuill who is always capable of scoring goals at international level and he took his chances well. It was nice to see some of the PHC players figure like Cecoy Robinson and Johnny Ball, while Kevin Richards was very good in both games."

PHC meet North Village at the Den with kick-off at 9 p.m. Dudley Eve action resumes on Sunday when Dandy Town take on last year's beaten finalists Devonshire Cougars at Lords at 2.30 p.m.