One First Division team is certain to reach the quarter-finals of the FA Cup, while five others are hoping to pull off upsets against Premier Division opponents during the first-round this weekend.

The ten Premier Division teams will be in action this weekend, including last season’s first-time winners, Robin Hood, who beat Dandy Town 2-0 in the final in April last year.

Hood, second in the table, play Flanagan’s Onions tomorrow night at Goose Gosling Field.

On Sunday, BAA take on Southampton Rangers at the same venue in the only all-First Division tie.

BAA were boosted over the Christmas holidays by the return of college players who helped them retain their First Division Shield title.

“We have a few of those players still on island but most of them have gone back,” Kenny Thompson, the BAA football director, said.

“Of course they help to make our team a lot stronger with the quality that they have.

“Having said that we have a great nucleus of players who are based here in Bermuda, many of whom are very young but have a lot of potential as well.

“The college players have a little bit more experience so that is where the extra bit of quality comes in, but we are happy with the players who are based here and are confident they will do a good job.”

BAA, still 11 points adrift of second place in the table, are the division’s top scorers with 32 goals after their 7-1 thrashing of Wolves last weekend.

“We’re off the pace in terms of promotion but anything can happen,” Thompson admitted.

“I think this year is the most competitive I’ve seen in some seasons now.

“For teams like ourselves who are off the pace, all it takes is for some of the top teams to drop points against almost anyone in the division and it’s a different ball game.”

BAA were the first winners of the FA Cup back in 1955-56, ironically beating Southampton Rangers 3-2 in the final.

After reclaiming top spot in the First Division on Wednesday night with a 6-1 win over Hamilton Parish, Young Men’s Social Club are now preparing for a meeting against the season’s most successful cup team so far, Devonshire Cougars.

Quincy Paynter, the Social Club coach, knows his team will have a tough task trying to upset the Dudley Eve Trophy and Friendship Trophy winners.

“In terms of the goals we’re trying to achieve this is not so important but it gives us a chance to compete against a team we would like to see next year,” Paynter said.

Social Club suffered a 7-1 thrashing at the hands of BAA in the Shield semi-final on Boxing Day, but that result seems to be behind them now as they prepare for another cup tie.

“Cougars are a really good team, I think right now one of the best teams in the Premier Division,” Paynter said.

“I think our boys have grown a little bit from that loss, and I think we needed that loss to give us that bit again. I think four wins will guarantee us promotion so we’ll take it one game at a time.”

In other cup ties on Sunday, North Village host Wolves at Bernard Park while X-Roads welcome Devonshire Colts to Garrison Field. Both games start at 12.30pm.

The 3pm fixtures pit Cougars against Social Club at Devonshire Recreation Club, Dandy Town take on Somerset at St John’s Field, Somerset Eagles are at home to PHC Zebras at White Hill Field and St George’s travel to Police Field to play Boulevard.

PHC are the most successful team in the competition with 11 wins while Somerset and North Village have nine.

Dandy Town, winners in three of the last five finals, have six titles while Devonshire Colts and Boulevard have five apiece.