Devonshire Cougars striker Mark Steede is excited about the task his club face when league play resumes this weekend with some thrilling fixtures, one of which is Southampton Rangers' trip to Devonshire Rec. to take on the league leaders.

Not having played a match in three weeks has enabled Cougars to rest weary legs and prepare for the business end of the league campaign that includes matches against Boulevard, PHC and North Village.

Steede insisted his team-mates won't take this Sunday's match lightly given the recent form of their opponents.

Rangers continued their quest for Friendship and FA Cup honours with victories over North Village and Somerset Eagles respectively and will be looking to claim the scalp of the league leaders. And having a former Cougars coach in their camp will help the visitors remedy any nerves they may have when they take to the pitch.

"We are ok, everyone is ready to go and Sunday will be a tricky fixture for us," said Steede. "Nobody is thinking that we will walk into the match and walk out with the three points easy . . . they have been putting results together as of late, so it will be interesting.

"They have progressed in two cup competitions that we have been knocked out of in the last week, so we are trying to prepare for this.

"They have an advantage in regards to gaining valuable experience in a time that is most important.

"And with the announcement that they won't be going down if they are in the bottom two will also be a big help for them.

"They have balance now being notified that their top flight status is pretty much safe, barring a disastrous run of form.

"(Marriko) Iris said in his interview the other day that he can sleep at night knowing that the pressure is off of them, so that will be an advantage.

"Also, their coach (Albert Smith) knows our style and has an insight to how we play being our old coach. So coming to the 'Den' wouldn't scare them I think.

"We have been off for three weeks and are hungry to play and we are at home and top of the standings, so we know what must be done. Albert has a good group of guys and they could be the decider in who wins the league with the way they are playing."

The top three are separated by only two points with Village six points off the pace.

Yet Steede won't be drawn into the argument that it is a three-horse race with the Rams having no chance of getting back in it.

History shows that the leading side going into the second half of the season has fallen off the pace. Village overcame a seven-point gap in the 2005-06 campaign to pip Somerset Trojans for the title.

Cougars will be looking to end that kind of jinx by winning the league after being in pole position at the turn.

And with Boulevard also in the hunt along with Dandy Town, it remains anyone's guess as to how the final table will look.

Blazers also possess another former Cougars coach in Andrew Bascome, a coach who Steede rates and has been in the winners' circle come season end numerous times.

"No one is out of league honours, I would even say North Village have a chance to creep through the back door being six points back. It sounds like a lot but it really isn't, " added Steede.

"This will definitely be one of the more thrilling and exciting climaxes to a season in years, with teams hitting form on all fronts.

"Town are still in cups, Boulevard are in with a shot, so nothing is written in stone.

"But I wouldn't write off Boulevard with 'Drew' being there and his knowhow on what needs to be done to get the task accomplished.

"I have been coached by him and he is special and can get his team up for anything, so it will be interesting to see what happens in the weeks to come."