season when he netted twice in last weekend's 3-0 win over Devonshire Colts.

Now Wolves will be looking to other college students to help carry the team over the hump and into the Dudley Eve tournament this weekend.

Four more youngsters who played a big part in the team's promotion push last season -- Joey Rego, John Barry Nusum, Vince Minors Jr and Julian Francis -- are all in line for their First Division debuts when Wolves take on Devonshire Cougars in what Wolves coach Dennis Brown admits will be a "battle of the Den.'' Nusum and Francis returned from school during the week and Rego and Minors are due back tomorrow. And while Brown is keeping things close to his chest, he has admitted that Rego and Nusum are very much in his plans.

"Joey and John Barry are two quality players.... too much quality to be sitting and watching on the sideline,'' said Brown yesterday.

"Everyone will be involved. I would say I'm having a lot of headaches picking my first 11. That's a good headache for a coach, mind you. I would rather have too many players to pick from than none at all.'' Considering the lack of First Division experience when the season began, Wolves have handled themselves well amongst the big boys.

"I feel that for the goals we set for the first half of the season we are pretty much where we want to be,'' said the coach.

"One of our goals was to try to attain as many points as we could and see what happens in the second half of the season. There is a lot of room for improvement, but I told them that the first half of the season was a learning experience for them. In the second half they will have more to learn.'' Virtually three of the four places for the Dudley Eve have been decided with league leaders Dandy Town already through while Vasco and North Village need just one point from their matches against Devonshire Colts and Somerset at BAA Field and Bernard Park to book their places.

With that expected to happen, Wolves and fifth-placed Southampton Rangers will battle for the remaining spot. Their opponents are bottom three teams, Cougars and Hamilton Parish, but even so there won't be any room for complacency.

"One thing, we will not be taking Devonshire Cougars for granted, I think they will come into the game with a lot of confidence,'' Brown said.

Cougars are fresh off a 4-1 win over Parish last weekend and have a chance to move level on points with both Colts and Somerset.

Wolves have never played in the Dudley Eve and achieving that goal would not only be good for them but also for the game as their college youngsters would then be on show for at least two matches during the holidays.

"It would be good, not only for the Wolves club, but for the Bermuda people in general to see these up and coming young players who I hold in very high esteem,'' said the coach.

"I always thought Khari was a quality player and you saw it as soon as he hit the changing room with the lift he gave his team-mates.'' Most of the Wolves players are playing in the First Division for the first time, while two other seasoned signings are yet to make a contribution.

Striker Kenny Hill and midfielder Carlos Pearman both returned to the team but Hill hasn't fitted into the programme, while Pearman picked up a knee injury that will likely keep him out all season.

"Our overall goal for the season is to stay up but I feel that qualifying for the Dudley Eve would be a bonus for a fair first half of the season,'' Brown stated.

Parish should also be confident about their chances of picking up their first win when they take on struggling Southampton Rangers at Wellington Oval.

Rangers have faded lately and now need a victory to overtake Wolves for the fourth place. Parish would be just happy with a win...after losing seven of their first eight matches, many by the odd goal.

Boulevard are also in desperate need of points. They close out their pre-Christmas campaign with a match at Lord's against leaders Dandy Town, hoping to close the gap between themselves and eighth-placed Cougars.

The Second Division teams have already reached the halfway stage of their season so no matches are scheduled in that division.