PHC Zebras will tread very cautiously into Devonshire Cougars territory when they visit Devonshire Recreation Club tonight still in search of their first league victory.

Cougars are in transition and sit bottom of the Premier Division without a point after three straight losses.

They hardly look like the team that won the triple crown back in 2012-13, but Mark Wade, the PHC coach, insists they will not be taking their opponents lightly.

“We’re certainly not taking them for granted, they have eleven players on the field just like us,” Wade said.

It would appear the teams are heading in opposite directions this season, with Cougars rebuilding under new coach Kwame Steede — their third in four seasons — while PHC showed early signs of promise in the Dudley Eve Trophy where they reached the semi-finals, only to struggle in the league.

“We enjoyed two victories in the Dudley Eve competition but so far a league victory has escaped us,” Wade said. “We just need to develop some consistency, it’s a matter of defensive lapses at key moments and not turning the chances that we are creating into goals.

“We’ll plug along, the players will dig deep and try to build a rhythm. It’s very interesting, unpredictable and who would have thought we all would be chasing Devonshire Colts at the beginning of the season.

“Devonshire Cougars are at home and are a team with a lot of pride. They have quite a few players from the community who have Cougars at heart so I don’t expect a match in which we won’t have to work for it.

“Cougars are rebuilding, they have young players and young players bring a different approach to matches. It’ll be an interesting match and challenging and hopefully we can put it all together and leave ‘the Den’ with three points.”

PHC strengthen their defence with the signing of goalkeepers Troy Hall Jr, back after a spell at North Village, and Daniel Johnson from Cougars, while midfielder Casey Castle has returned after a season with Hamilton Parish.

“Most of the things are going right, we have the community behind us and all the [new and returning] players have blended in well with the team,” Wade said. “It’s between the white lines that we’re looking to be consistent.”

Next up for PHC will be a semi-final clash against Dandy Town, the in-form defending champions, in the Dudley Eve Trophy next weekend.

“We’re approaching the games like we normally do which is one at a time, so we’re focused on Devonshire Cougars on Friday night,” Wade said. “We’ll look at the next match when it comes, but for now it is Devonshire Cougars and getting a good result. They’re looking to do well just like we are so we have to be at our best.”

In the 7pm opener, Wolves and X-Roads are also seeking their first wins in the First Division.