Leaders North East Stars can move to the brink of winning the 2004 T&T Pro League today when they host the Defence Force from 3.30 p.m. at their Sangre Grande Recreation Ground base at Foster Road.
A victory will give Stars 54 points and, with their superior goal-average, mathematically they will be home and dry.
However, to be absolutely sure, Stars need to defeat Defence Force today and also get a point from their final game against Starworld Strikers next Sunday.
But club owner David John Williams still has big hopes of his Vibe CT 105 W. Connection clinching the title and he will be looking for Defence Force to either cause an upset or steal a draw at Sangre Grande.
And now that they cannot realistically retain the T&T Pro League crown, 2002 and 2003 champions CL Financial San Juan Jabloteh are making every effort to take second place in the competition.
Jabloteh's English coach Stephen Rutter admits that although they still have a mathematical chance of reclaiming their title, the chance of them doing so is unlikely.
Rutter said the object is to now finish the highest they can in the league.
"If we can't finish first, we want to finish second," he said. "Because it is unlikely that the two teams above us will lose all their matches...doesn't mean we will not try to win our last two matches and finish in the best position we can."
Rutter described last Wednesday's 3-1 loss to leaders North East Stars as the most decisive result of the season and said it was the worst they had played in ten matches. He felt that Stars played with much more urgency on the night.
Today, Jabloteh tackle Starworld Strikers at the Manny Ramjohn Stadium, Marabella, before closing off their season against arch-rivals W. Connection next Sunday.
T&T PRO LEAGUE SCHEDULE:
Today
Arima-Morvant Fire v Vibe CT 105 W.Connection, 5 p.m., Larry Gomes Stadium.
North East Stars v Defence Force, 3.30 p.m., Sangre Grande.
Starworld Strikers v CL Financial San Juan Jabloteh, 5 p.m., Manny Ramjohn Stadium.