by securing a place in the FA Cup final tonight.

The Zebras face championship contenders North Village at Devonshire Rec (9.00 p.m.) and coach Sammy Swan is determined to make it a night to remember.

So far this term, Swan's men have failed to live up to their billing as the Island's top dogs and currently find themselves in fourth place, well adrift of Village, Devonshire Colts and Dandy Town.

"It's been very disappointing, especially coming from being league champions and having to struggle,'' Swan said. "I call it struggle, my players don't seem to think so.'' The coach has played himself up front recently in a bid to rally the troops.

"We have had a few guys out injured, some guys have personal problems I guess and haven't been training and I just have to do the best I can,'' he said.

To the observer the match would appear to throw up a contrast of styles, the Red Devils' continental approach of pass, probe and execute versus PHC's more direct doctrine.

Swan said he didn't like being referred to as a route one team, but said there was nothing wrong with the way his side played.

"I don't think it's fair, but that's what makes the game -- different styles of different teams. No two teams play the exact same way. We are just a little bit more aggressive, we get straight to the point,'' he said.

"Village knock the ball around and try to get goals that way and they have done a pretty good job of it.'' So far this season Village have the edge over the Zebras, but Swan said in knockout competitions form like that went out the window.

"I'm always confident in my guys provided they come to play but on the day it's anybody's game,'' he said.

"I'm just looking for the team to pick themselves up and play well and do the best they can. If they can do the best they can I'll be satisfied with that and I know it will get me the result I'm looking for.'' The match marks the return to action for Village's David Thomas who has been sidelined since December with a rib injury -- ironically picked up against PHC.

Thomas had to be stretchered off during the encounter which Village won 2-0 after a collision with an opposing striker.

Coach Scott Morton said: "This will be his first game back. As far as fitness level is concerned he is probably back to 75 to 80 percent, but he will suffice for the night.'' Morton said he had been working on his players' minds as much as their bodies in readiness for tonight.

"Right now I'm trying to increase the mental concentration level of our players,'' he said. "That is slipping away a bit. I have been pleased with our overall play as far as when we attack and when we defend, but it's our concentration level as far as the whole game concept is concerned.

"We have been especially lacking in our finishing. I felt against (Dandy) Town we could have had at least two goals, maybe three. As everybody knows you cannot teach somebody how to put the ball in the back of the net, you can only present them with those goalscoring chances.'' Back in action: Village's David Thomas, seen here being carried off during a league match against PHC last December, will return this evening against the same team in the FA Cup semi-final.