The coaches have been saying for weeks that the league race in the Premier Division would go right down to the wire, but it might be settled this weekend with one round of matches still to go depending on the results.

After the break for the two friendly internationals with Grenada last weekend, the focus switches back to the league and relegation battles on Sunday as Somerset Trojans look to close in on their first league title in 23 years.

However, they have a tough match at Bernard Park to negotiate when their opponents, North Village, go in search of the win that will end the slight threat of relegation that still hangs over them.

Somerset lead second-placed Dandy Town by one point with two matches remaining while PHC are two points behind the leaders and faltering Hamilton Parish further back in fourth place.

Parish’s title aspirations will end on Saturday night if they lose to Robin Hood who need one more win to be safe from the drop. They are presently just three points behind Parish who, if they win, will move level with Dandy Town ahead of their match on Sunday with Southampton Rangers.

“If we get anything out of that game it puts more pressure on the teams below us,” said Kyle Lightbourne, the Robin Hood coach, after Hood’s recent win over North Village dragged the Rams into the relegation scrap. They are one of four teams behind Hood in the table.

“I watched Parish the other day and it’s going to be a tough game for us. Parish are probably hurting a little bit, feeling that it [league title] was in their grasp, but that’s how it goes sometimes.”

Parish were right in the thick of the title race a few weeks ago, then came a loss to Rangers, a draw with St George’s and defeats to Somerset and Dandy Town in their last four matches. The four points that separate them from top spot may be too big a gap to close now and when they play PHC on April 5 in a season-ender at PHC Field it may only be for third place, though third still represents a good season for the Peppers.

The action really heats up on Sunday where the Trojans could move closer to a first league title in two decades while a defeat at Bernard Park would enable Dandy Town and PHC to move ahead of them with one game remaining.

Dandy Town face an unpredictable Southampton Rangers team at St John’s Field where the visitors are desperate for a win to keep St George’s and Flanagan’s Onions behind them.

Rangers have the toughest last two matches of the teams in the bottom half of the table, as they are also away to Trojans in their final outing.

St George’s have two final home games, including one against Flanagan’s Onions on Sunday. Onions, if they fail to win, will be relegated. Onions sit on the bottom with the worst goal difference of the teams (-11). St George’s, a point ahead of Onions, have a goal difference of minus-six.

The East Enders will be without captain Jarizinho Bassett who was sent off in the home loss to PHC following an outburst after being substituted.

Devonshire Cougars need just a point to be safe and, with not much to play for, could act as spoilers when they play PHC tomorrow at PHC Field and North Village at home next weekend.

Village can still salvage something from a disappointing season as they will play Onions next Thursday in the semi-finals of the FA Cup in a double-header at Goose Gosling Field. Village lost to Dandy Town in last season’s final and a repeat of that game is possible with the Hornets meeting the Trojans in the other semi-final.