Adrian Frater, News Editor

Western Bureau:

Nine inter-zone places and five Ben Francis Cup Knockout slots are up for grabs when the curtain comes down on the preliminary round of the 2008 ISSA/Pepsi/Digicel daCosta Cup today, with 32 games spanning 12 zones, all set to begin at 3:30 p.m.

While the matches in the zones from which teams have already qualified for the inter-zone and Ben Francis KO only serve statistical purposes, it should be all excitement in the zones where places are up for grabs.

In Zone I, where defending champions Garvey Maceo (19) are in a fight for their life, the situation looks dicey as, while they must beat the unbeaten zone winner and Ben Francis KO qualifier Old Harbour (25) to give themselves a chance, their rival for the place, former champions Glenmuir (20), only need to repeat their first-round win against the out-of-contention Central High.

Battle royal

A battle royal looms in Zone C where second place Grange Hill (11) and Petersfield (9) will square off to decide who will accompany former champions and leaders Godfrey Stewart, who have already qualified for the Ben Francis KO by winning the zone.

It should be interesting to note that the first-round clash between the teams ended 0-0.

In Zone D, where Marcus Garvey have copped one of the two inter-zone places and need only a point against Ocho Rios today to clinch the groups lone Ben Francis KO slot, an epic battle is anticipated between second-place Clarks Town (20) and third-place Browns Town (18).

A win for Cedric Titus would not only put them through ahead of Browns Town, who are facing a must-win situation, it would also put them in contention for the groups Ben Francis KO slot, should Marcus Garvey lose to out-of-contention Ocho Rios.

In Zone F, where Manchester High have wrapped up the Ben Francis KO slot and one inter-zone place, the other inter-zone place should be decided in todays clash between joint second place teams DeCarteret College (14) and Bellefield (14).

However, should this game end in a draw, then third place Porus (9), which have two outstanding games, could bounce right back into contention.

Do-or-die situation

It will be a do-or-die situation in Zone G, where the two inter-zone slots and the Ben Francis KO place are still up for grabs. A win for leaders Spalding (18) would make them group winners and a win for second place Holmwood (16) would guarantee at least one of the inter-zone spots.

However, any other result could see third place Edwin Allen (9), which have three outstanding games, getting into the mix.

In Zone J, second place Dinthill (19) should join zone winner and Ben Francis qualifier Bog Walk (25) with a win against out-of-contention Ewarton.

In Zone K, where St Mary Technical (26) have sealed both the Ben Francis KO slot and one of the inter-zone places, second place Tacky (25) and third place St Mary High (24) are both in with a chance.

However, while Tacky will only need to beat the out-of-contention Iona, St Mary High face the onerous task of beating the unbeaten St Mary Technical, which drew 1-1 with them in the first round.

In the divided Zone L, which had a four-team play-off to decide the two inter-zone qualifiers, the two qualifiers, St Mary Technical and Paul Bogle will meet today to decide which of them will contest the Ben Francis KO.

Today's Games

Zone A: St James vs Green Pond at Jarrett Park; Cornwall College vs Spot Valley at Cornwall; Herbert Morrison vs Irwin at Bogue.

Zone B: Anchovy vs Green Island at Irwin; Knockalva vs Merlene Ottey at Knockalva; Hopewell vs Ruseas at Hopewell.

Zone C: Grange Hill vs Petersfield at Petersfield; Mannings vs Godfrey Stewart at Mannings/

Zone D: Aabuthnott Gallimore vs York Castle at Addison Park; Marcus Garvey vs Ocho Rios Drax Hall; Cedric Titus vs Browns Town at Clarks Town.

Zone E: BB Coke vs Black River at Downs; STETHS vs Balaclava at STETHS; Lacocia vs Maggotty at Lacovia.

Zone F: Bellefield vs DeCarteret at Bellefield; Belair vs Cross Keys at Belair; Manchester vs Porus at Porus.

Zone G: Holmwood vs Edwin Allen at Holmwood; Knox vs Mile Gully at Knox; Spaldings vs Christiana at Spaldings.

Zone H: Vere vs Lennon at Vere; Claude McKay vs Clarendon at Claude McKay.

Zone I: Kemps Hill vs Tacius Golding at Kemps Hill; Garvey Maceo vs Old Harbour at Effortville Community Centre; Glenmuir vs Central High at York Town Community Centre.

Zone J: Charlemont vs McGrath at Charlemont; Bog Walk vs Glengoffe at Bybrook Sports Club; Ewarton vs Dinthill at Ewarton.

Zone K: St Mary High vs St Mary Technical at Palmers Park; Brimmervale vs Oracabessa at Clembhards Park (1:30 p.m.); Islington vs Annotto Bay at Clembhards Park (3:30 p.m.)

Zone L: St Thomas vs Paul Bogle at Eastern Banana.