First Division status -- do battle tomorrow in the second FA Cup semi-final for the right to tackle defending champions Vasco in the final.

But while not exactly a glamour match-up, the match is important to both as they attempt to resuscitate flagging fortunes.

Following a spirited run prior to the Christmas break Cougars have been caught in a downward spiral, losing four of eight matches and standing squarely in the relegation zone.

Compounding matters is the loss of several key team members to injury or unavailability.

Forwards Phillip Clarke and Clevie Campbell are out with knocks as is centre-back Darrid Durrant, while captain Shawn Smith, the team's best player, is on international duty with the Pan-Am Games squad.

No such worries afflict coach Neil Paynter's men from the east other than the loss of defender Dean Bailey, also with the Under-23s.

Still, recent weeks have seen St. George's plummet from a place among the league's top four to a position closer to the basement as they have struggled to score goals with the team leading poacher Clay Smith enduring a poor run.

Nevertheless, they will enter White Hill field as slight favourites to reach their first FA Cup final.

Cougars have been to the final once, in 1979, when they were unmercifully hammered 4-0 by Somerset.