ALL eyes will be on Bastion Gardens this Saturday when neighbours Prestatyn Town and Rhyl clash in the quarter-finals of the Welsh Cup (2.30pm).
Last season this fixture would have seen the Lilywhites as nailed-on favourites given the fact they dominated the Welsh Premier League on their way to a second title, while Prestatyn, in their first season at the top level, struggled to make an impact.
However, this season things have turned around with a much-changed Rhyl squad still a force but appearing unlikely to retain their championship as they lie in fourth spot in the WPL, while a rejuvenated Prestatyn, boosted by a number of quality signings, are ninth and looking good for a place in next term's Super 12.
League meetings between the Denbighshire rivals finished 7-2 and 4-1 to Rhyl last season, but this term the pair have shared 0-0 and 1-1 draws, although the Lilies won two League Cup battles with the Seasiders.
That makes this Saturday's much-awaited cup encounter anything but a formality and with Prestatyn aiming to make a statement that they can stake a claim to be the area's top dogs, it has all the ingredients for a cracking tie.
Before the cup tie, Rhyl have a league game to play on Wednesday night at home to Bala Town, a potentially difficult encounter which the Belle Vue outfit need to win to cement their status in the leading pack.
The Lilies, after a dismal 3-1 defeat at Bangor City following the loss of three key players in the transfer window, have steadied the ship in their last two games, beating Newtown 4-2 and Porthmadog 2-0 at the Traeth on Saturday.
Prestatyn's Welsh Premier fixture at Airbus UK last Friday was postponed. They are scheduled to visit Neath tomorrow (Tuesday).