The Ascot Hotel Junior Cup springs into life this weekend with eight preliminary round matches taking place across the island.

The pick of the bunch is arguably at Blackberry Lane where newly-crowned Canada Life Combination One champions DHSOB play host to last year’s Junior Cup runners-up Peel.

The hosts will go into this match as favourites to progress as the westerners’ combi side have endured an indifferent season, however the Sunset City outfit are also one of the few teams to have taken points of Old Boys so could cause an upset.

Another interesting game could be on the cards at Ballafletcher where fourth-placed Corinthians welcome St George’s.

The latter won the previous league meeting between the two so will fancy their chances, but home advantage may prove crucial for the Whites.

Defending champions Rushen United are sure-fire favourites to get the better of lowly Ramsey, while high-flying Laxey will also be expected to get the better of JCK Combination Two side Douglas Royal.

At least two Combi Two outfits will definitely put their names in the hat for the first round draw as Foxdale host Michael United and Gymns travel to Marown.

Onchan may feel confident of causing a shock as the Combi Two runners-up host Combi One’s Douglas Athletic at the Nivison Stadium.

Elsewhere, Union Mills will be hoping to avoid a ’cupset’ of their own away at RYCOB in the north.