Robert Bailey, Freelance Writer

Defending Champions Cala-bar and last year's beaten finalist Norman Manley will meet in today's feature, a top-of-the-table clash, in the second round of the ISSA/Pepsi/JN Manning Cup competition, at Stadium East starting at 3: 00 p.m.

Waterford oppose former champions Wolmer's in the 1: 00 p.m. curtain raiser.

Knowing that a win for either team will see them taking sole leadership of Group Two, both Calabar and Norman Manley are out to build on the three points garnered from their opening encounters.

The teams have an identical +2 goal difference as Calabar defeated Wolmer's 2-0 in their lone round two game and Norman Manley beat Waterford by a similar margin last week.

Norman Manley have an old score to settle with Calabar, who no doubt enter the game with bragging rights. Calabar beat Norman Manley 2-1 in the finals to lift the Manning Cup last year, denying the inner-city school their third hold on Corporate Area football's most prestigious title.

It is the first time the teams will be meeting since the final and the Red Hills Road-based Calabar are eager to beat Norman Manley again.

Robert Palmer, Calabar's captain and central defender Leo Campbell, will be the backbone of the team's defence. Ramone Palmer, Shane Bygrave and Lennox Creary are expected to drop anchor in midfield, while Cleyon Brown and Conroy Cunningham should provide the fireworks up front.

Good football

Norman Manley, which last won the title in 2003, are yet to lose a Manning Cup game all season and their coach, Alrick Clarke, is not prepared to have a blemish on their record at this stage.

"We are going out there to compete against Calabar for 90 minutes and play some good football," said Clarke.

Clarke admits that Calabar have a good unit but notes that Norman Manley have players to match them in all departments. Top marksman Roshane Berry and captain Norman Bailey are expected to lead Norman Manley's charge and they should receive good support from Romario Campbell, Nicholas Anderson and Alexander Bruce, all of whom are expected to mount a fierce battle in the centre of the park.

Meanwhile, both Waterford and Wolmer's, which finished runners-up in Group F to Bridgeport, will be hoping to give themselves a lifeline as a win would revive either team's hopes, especially if the feature contest ends in a win for any of last week's winners.

This stage of the competition pits 12 teams in three groups. The group winner will advance to the semi-finals automatically, and will be joined by the best second-place team.