The final-lap bell sounds on the Manx football campaign this Saturday as the Keystone Law Hospital Cup gets under way.

The end-of-season competition’s preliminary round draw has thrown up some interesting ties, not least at the Bowl where treble-chasing St Mary’s host Rushen United.

Alex Harrison’s Saints top the Premier League standings and booked their place in the FPI FA Cup final at the weekend.

Rushen, in many ways, have been a victim of their own success. A lack of postponements, and therefore rearranged fixtures, has meant the Spaniards have only played once since the end of February.

That was a slender 4-3 win at Marown on March 23 meaning Liam Cowin’s side might be caught cold against his former club.

DHSOB’s inconsistent season hit another bad patch last weekend as they were beaten 4-1 by relegation-threatened Laxey in the Premier League.

Old Boys will have little time to lick their wounds with Division Two promotion hopefuls Pulrose travelling to Blackberry Lane smelling blood in the water.

Pully faced top-flight opposition in the recent FA Cup quarter-finals, losing 6-0 at Peel, but will fancy their chances of pulling off a cup-set this time out.

Foxdale will also be confident of advancing past higher-ranked opposition when they host Castletown at Billy Goat Park.

Town should, however, have some of their university brigade back for the Easter break.

Laxey and St John’s meet each other twice in a matter of days. This could go either way with both eyeing Tuesday’s crucial league meeting at the foot of the CLPL.

Elsewhere, St George’s should be strong favourites to advance past Division Two Gymns at Tromode, as will Railway Cup and FA Cup finalists Peel who host Union Mills at Douglas Road.

Douglas Royal will put their CLPL relegation fears behind them temporarily when they travel to second-tier Michael United.

In the round’s other two ties, FA Cup semi-finalists Colby make the long trip to Ayre United, while Onchan should be marginal favourites when they take on D and D at Springfield Road.