Cougars' captain Kwame Steede has hailed the Charity Cup as the biggest Devonshire derby in recent history as he trains his sights on lifting the trophy for the first time.

A passionate and partisan crowd is expected to descend on the BAA Field with derby-day fever gripping the parish, as Saturday's mouth-watering showpiece looms ever closer.

The annual showdown will signal the end of a lengthy period of "non-activity" between the old rivals who have occupied different divisions in recent times — a factor sure to spice up the already heated encounter.

And Steede, who missed Cougars' 2005-6 Charity Cup through injury, has challenged the defending champions to start the season as they finished the last — by lifting a piece of silverware.

"The whole of Devonshire will be interested in the outcome of this game with each set of supporters wanting to proclaim their team as the best in the parish," said Steede, who skippered the Bermuda Hogges during their inaugural campaign.

"I expect there to be a decent crowd with a spicy atmosphere as it's the first time the two teams have played each other for a while. The fact we're renewing acquaintances in the Charity Cup will increase that.

"People say we're favourites as champions but we don't feel under any extra pressure. We know we're the team to beat this season and we're mentally prepared for that.

"It will be my first Charity Cup as I was injured when Cougars played a few years ago so I'm looking forward to it. We did qualify another year after a team dropped out but I don't count that as we didn't earn the right to be there."

Newly promoted Devonshire Colts achieved what no other First Division club has ever managed by lifting the FA Cup last season, and Steede expects Ray Jones' attractive team to be a force to be reckoned with. "The Colts are a good team and will come to the Charity Cup expecting to win — there's no doubt about that," Steede added. "They're a tactical team and Ray Jones has got them playing a good brand of attractive football.

"They're one of the few teams in Bermuda who are capable of bringing the ball out of defence and they will fancy their chances of creating an upset.

"They had a great season achieving promotion and will enter this campaign with confidence. But the Cougars have become used to winning in recent years and we're taking this game seriously as there's a trophy to be won and we want to start the season as we mean to go on."

Cougars, who won nine out of their 14 league matches last season, are expected to welcome back their Bermuda Hogges' quartet of Steede, Raymond Beach, Domico Coddington and Darius Cox.

Colts' Hogges' representative Clevon Hill will miss the game due to suspension after being sent off in last year's FA Cup final for two bookable offences. Kick-off is at 8 p.m.