They say if you want to be the champions you have to beat the champions, which is the challenge North Village face tonight when they meet Dandy Town in a make-up match.

Town, who this time last season were on the brink of clinching an eighth league title, are still facing the threat of relegation and for that reason Village expect Hornets to be tough opponents at Goose Gosling Field. Kick off is at 9pm.

Town have gone unbeaten in their last three league games to climb out of the bottom two after spending the first half of the campaign in the relegation zone.

“It’s not going to be easy, but we’re mentally prepared for that, we know they’re going to fight,” Randy Spence, the Village assistant coach, said.

“Even though Town have been sitting at the lower end of the table, I felt they hadn’t been playing terribly, just offensive and defensive errors and losing the game by the odd goal.

“They’re still worthy opponents and will not be taken lightly.”

Village are confident Keishen Bean, the team’s captain, will be available after limping off in the dying minutes of their 1-0 win over Devonshire Cougars at Bernard Park last weekend. Shayne Hollis, the Village forward, scored the only goal of the game.

“It was just a little knock, so rather than take a chance we brought him off to get some therapy,” Spence said.

“He’s going to fight through this, to show his leadership qualities.”

Village rely on the experience and creativity that Keishen Bean and Ralph Bean bring to the team.

“These guys have played at the highest level on the island and have some overseas experience, so are definitely seasoned players,” Spence said.

“Ralph brings that leadership which is definitely needed in local football today. There aren’t many experienced players sometimes who could make it easier, settling the game, standing on the ball and directing play. That’s what the island is struggling with.”

Town seemed bereft of hunger and motivation at the start of the season, having stormed to the title last season under coach Jomar Wilkinson. However, Wilkinson paid the price for his team’s poor start and was replaced by player-coach Kwame Steede, with Andrew Bascome coming in as an assistant.

Town are level on 12 points with second-from-bottom Somerset Eagles, but their two games in hand will be decisive as the other one is against bottom team Devonshire Colts.

That match was switched from St John’s Field to Goose Gosling Field on Sunday because of flooding, however it was still not played.

Village won the first league meeting between the teams 2-0 at Bernard Park and will be looking to complete the double to keep the pressure on top two Robin Hood and PHC Zebras.

Hood lead the race with 38 points while PHC have 37 and Village 35, so a victory would put them level with Hood and make it interesting with two games remaining.

Village’s next match is against PHC on March 19 but they are not looking that far ahead, Spence insists.

“All we can do is take one game at a time and focus on getting three points every time we play,” he stressed.

“In terms of points and goal difference the league is Robin Hood’s to win, if they don’t lose any games they will win by goal difference even if we don’t lose.

“We want to take it down to the wire, which will make it very exciting. Hopefully the pressure of us not losing will cause them to slip up. We’re building and haven’t won any silverware in the last few years. We’ve got a good coach [Devarr Boyles], bringing tons of information.”

Village last won the league in 2010-11, with PHC finishing runners-up.

Village, PHC, Town and champions Hood will all be involved in FA Cup quarter-final action on Sunday. Three First Division sides are also still in the competition, new leaders and already promoted X-Roads, St George’s and BAA.

X-Roads and St George’s knocked out Premier Division opposition in the last round in January when X-Roads beat Devonshire Colts 4-2 and St George’s thumped Boulevard 6-2.

BAA start the weekend matches off with a clash with Hood on Saturday night at Goose Gosling Field before Sunday’s three matches pit X-Roads against Town, Village take on Cougars for the second straight weekend, and PHC face St George’s at PHC Field.