champions Vasco and Dandy Town face elimination when the second round of the Dudley Eve tournament switches to White Hill Field tomorrow.

The two winners from Wednesday night, PHC and Colts, will meet at 12.30 in what will be the first semi-final, while Vasco and Town look to stay in the competition at the other's expense when they clash at 2.30.

The worst that can happen to the losers of the PHC-Colts tie is having to play in the deciding semi-final on Boxing Day at Somerset. However, the winners gain access to the final, which means they'll avoid a Boxing Day match and subsequently enjoy a one week rest before the first of the two finals is staged at Wellington Oval next Sunday.

This tournament is one of the most popular, and lucrative, on the soccer schedule though gate receipts last year were down on the previous year.

However, this year's competition is promising to be exciting as Vasco struggle to hold onto the trophy they won last year and Devonshire Colts suddenly find themselves as one of the favourites following their midweek win over the champions.

Vasco had selection problems in their first Dudley Eve match with Voorhees Astwood and Sammy Swan both pencilled in to start but unable to do so because of illness and injury. And with Franklyn Simmons, Sinclair Gibbons and Billy Kirkpatrick also missing, Vasco only managed to field three substitutes.

They will have to pull out all the stops against Town who are also facing elimination. If some of their missing players return, Vasco's chances will obviously inprove.

They missed Astwood's experience in midfield and Swan's know-how up front, even though they managed to take the lead inside the first minute.

Town, however, must be confident of their chances having beaten Vasco 3-2 in the league earlier this season. Town have appeared in the last three finals, winning in 1993-94 when they beat North Village 4-1 on aggregate before going down 3-2 on aggregate to Somerset in 1994-95.

Last season Town lost to Vasco 2-0 and then drew 1-1, as they also lost their opening match against Vasco before beating Southampton Rangers and Village to reach the final.

Colts, the first winners of the trophy, and PHC, the most successful team in the competition with five titles, are both on course for a place in the final.

Both have some exciting talent with Colts banking on the likes of Ellington Weldon, Keimon Lawrence and Mark Ray for their goals while PHC's goalscorer against Dandy Town in midweek, Kenny Mills, will rely on the service from Shawn Simons, Winston Trott, Sheridan Ming and Otis Steede.