Having recently inflicted the loss on Dandy Town that cost them their First Division title, Somerset Trojans will be aiming to rob the St. John's Road club of another title when the teams meet in tomorrow's Friendship Trophy final at National Stadium (kick-off 3.00 p.m.).

Town entered the season as the most successful team from a year ago, having won three titles.

But gradually they have been knocked from their lofty position, with the Trojans partially responsible for their decline.

Somerset took the Dudley Eve Trophy from Town when they beat them in the two-leg final earlier this year and then stopped them in their push for a second straight league championship when they won on Town's own ground three weeks ago.

Now, in Town's last bid to salvage something from what has been a disappointing season, it's again the Trojans who stand in their way.

The fact that Somerset have had the better of the exchanges between the teams this season will only serve to make Town all the more determined to hang onto the Friendship Trophy.

In the six meetings between the teams this season, Somerset have won four of the last five after Town took the opening clash in the Martonmere Cup 3-1 last October. Since then Somerset have won twice in the league, the first being Town's first league loss, as well as beating them twice in their three Dudley Eve meetings.

"They are still one of the top teams so obviously they're not going to lie down and give it to us,'' said Somerset coach Josef Gooden who acknowledges that Town are going to be tough to beat.

And though the strike pair of top scorer Darron (Duke) Simons and Carlos Smith will have to be watched closely, Gooden insists his team will not change their tactical plans.

Gooden feels Somerset have their own potential match winners, with Kenny Thompson back from school and almost a certainty to start his second match of the season while Jerry Webb returns from suspension.

"He's back, he's available, is definitely a match winner and it gives us another attacking player,'' Gooden says of Thompson, though he did not say if the former Bermuda international would automatically start.

Thompson played in last weekend's 5-1 win over North Village and scored twice.

"We also have Jerry Webb back from suspension so we have a few options that we can go with,'' added Gooden.

"With Kenny back it gives us an extra option and we can stick to our game plan and not worry about what they have but let them worry about what we have.

"Everybody's been saying that we are in the rebuilding stage but I've been saying that we have the potential to win everything. We did not, but if we can win another trophy it should give the team some incentive for the next few years.

"Last week they showed character and came back strong and hopefully they can continue where they left off last week. It (final) should be very entertaining.

"It's a big field, lots of space -- both teams have players with flair and I'm hoping the fans will come out and support it.'' The action starts at 1.00 with the Shield final between Second Division champions Southampton Rangers and Prospect. Rangers should start the match as firm favourites, having beaten Prospect twice this season, but Prospect have the potential to make it an interesting final.

Both teams are loaded with goal scorers with Rangers having the likes of top scorer Alfred Wolffe, Jason Raynor, Craig Darrell, Neville Grant and Irvin Trott to call on while lately Dwayne Leverock, Andrew Bissell, Terry Thomas and John Richmond have been the key men for Prospect in that department.

Prospect lost to BAA in the 1993 final and despite Southampton's success this season they are determined not to lose again in the final. Last season an upset was produced when BAA beat favourites Devonshire Cougars. Prospect will be hoping history can repeat itself.

The rules of the Friendship and Shield competition call for a winner to be decided tomorrow, with penalty kicks being used if the matches are still level at the end of extra time.