BELVEDERE player-boss Bobby Darch believes the winners of Sunday's Len Mahoney Cup final at the Avenue Stadium (1.30pm) will go on and claim the WindowMan Premiership title.

Table-topping Belve are up against second-placed Black Dog and an enthralling encounter is expected, especially as both teams will meet again on May 20 in a championship decider.

The Belve looked favourites to win the Premiership at the start of last month but a shock defeat against Wey-mouth Saints, that cost them their unbeaten league record, threw the race open again.

Darch, whose side lead the Dog by one point, said: "We were so close to winning the league but we lost against the Saints and it is now back in the Black Dog's hands.

"Since that loss we have responded well. We beat the Saints the following week and it is now just a case of getting the lads going for Sunday.

"The Black Dog have been the team to beat for a while now and I think they are a good advert for the league. But having matched them in the league so far and beaten them once we will be going into Sunday's final with confidence - confident but also respectful.

"The league decider is in two weeks' time and I think whoever wins on Sunday will go on to win the title as well."

Belve beat the Dog 2-1 earlier in the season with goals by Lane and Noddy Coan but Alan Heseltine's men are on course for a treble having already won this year's Dorset Sunday Intermediate Cup.

Heseltine said: "We are definitely well up for it. I think our lads have done really well over the past few weeks with the amount of games we have had and we are still in with a chance of the treble and I can see no reason why we cannot do it.

"I think whoever takes the initiative early on and settles first will go on to win on Sunday. The first goal is certainly going to be very important."

Influential defender Andy Holder is unavailable for the Belve who will include Ray Wellman and Ricky Limm in their squad. Derek Puckett is suspended for the Dog but Ollie Stanton returns.

Darch said: "Andy Holder is a big loss. He is unavailable but apart from him we should be at full strength.

"Simon Shapcott, Ricky Lane and myself are our goal-getters but despite Derek Puckett being suspended, they have also got a couple of good forwards in Nick Etherington and Paul Cole so it is going to be a good game. They are quite physical, the same as us, and we are looking forward to it."

Preceeding the Len Mahoney final, Chapelhay will take on the Cork & Bottle in the Les Hallett Cup final also at the Avenue (10.30am).

Chapelhay spokesman Billy Hunter said: "We lost 1-0 in last year's final so to get back there again is a good achievement.

"Everyone is fit and raring to go, we know some of Cork & Bottle's players and it should be a good game."

Cork & Bottle boss Glen Stanland, who used to play for Chapelhay, is also looking forward to the clash.

He said: "We beat them in pre-season so we are quietly confident. The Avenue is a big pitch but we should be okay with that because several of our lads play on Saturdays."

Dan Lang (neck) and Brad Smith (elbow) are both sidelined for Cork & Bottle who will welcome back Jamie Dolber. Chapelhay will be without Andrew McDermott who is unavailable.

Of both games, WindowMan League spokesman Mark Cottingham said: "Dorchester have staged the finals two years on the trot now and they have been a great help to us so I would like to say a big thank you to them."

n Entry on Sunday is £1 and all the proceeds will go to charity.