The stakes are high for Somerset Trojans and Devonshire Cougars when they square off in the Premier Division at Somerset Cricket Club tonight (8pm).

Trojans are in a desperate need of points to bolster their chances of survival while Cougars find themselves in the thick of the title race at the opposite end of the table.

Cougars trail leaders North Village, who they lost 2-1 to in their previous league outing, by a point and can return to the summit with victory over Trojans.

“It’s all about the mental at this stage and mindset,” Cougars forward Lejuan Simmons told The Royal Gazette.

“We have the experience and the style of play. The only thought is to keep the pressure on with a positive result.”

Despite taking only five points in ten outings to date, Trojans have proven to be no pushovers in losing by the odd goal in back-to-back clashes with champions PHC Zebras in the Friendship Trophy final and league in their previous two outings.

Trojans coach Jensen Rogers is wary of the importance of his team’s remaining matches as they try to avoid taking the dreaded plunge to the First Division.

“Every match until the end of the season is important, every point will be valuable,” he said.

“Our confidence has remained high and the guys have remained positive. We look to put together a performance on Thursday.”

This match will be the third meeting between the rivals this season. The two sides played to a 1-1 stalemate in the first clash between them during the group stage of the Dudley Eve Trophy. Cougars won the second in the league 6-2, with former Trojans midfielder Simeon Burrows scoring a brace to open his goal account after joining Kwame Steede’s team in the late-transfer window.

While confidence is high in the camp, Rogers is also wary of the task at hand against a formidable and well-drilled Cougars side.

“Cougars are an experienced side with top players, hence the reason they are in the title race,” Rogers said.