There is nothing like an old rivalry to stir up passion.
Add a twist of drama and the excitement is doubled.
Today's critical encounter between defending zonal champions Arima Senior Comprehensive and St Augustine Secondary offers all that.
Although they have a game in hand, the reigning champs, "Dial Dynamos" (11) dropped crucial points against the second-placed San Juan Secondary (14) Tuesday in a 2-0 defeat at Bourg Mulatresse.
Currently six points behind leaders St Augustine, Arima will need nothing but a win today to ensure they can keep in the title race.
A victory will not be an easy task against a confident "Green Machine" side that has not lost a game to date this season.
Attempting to end a nine-year drought since their last East Zone crown, St Augustine recruited former Arima stalwart and coach Michael Grayson. Going by their statistics, Grayson seems to have had a very good influence on the Warren Street outfit who had stumbled at inopportune times over the last few seasons.
Grayson's experience and knowledge may yet influence the outcome of todays' match.
In the other games, San Juan take on Hillview, Barataria tackle St George's while Valencia oppose EL Dorado.
Down South, Naparima College will also want to put some distance between themselves and the chasing pack when they square off against arch rivals St Benedict's College (11)at the Manny Ramjohn Stadium in Marabella.
Naparima (15) are just two points clear of Mayaro Composite who battle Vessigny at the Mahaica Oval. They will play again without their influential playmaker Kezi Lara, on national under-20 duty.
A win for fourth placed St Benedict's (11) could give them the impetus to launch a serious attack for the title as the competition winds down towards the middle of next month. If they can even repeat their performance in the season opener when the two teams played to a 3-3 draw, they may get their desired three points.
No quarter is sure to be conceded here.
Third placed Princes Town Senior Comprehensive challenge Pleasantville Senior while Moruga host Fyzabad in the other games.
Up North , Mucurapo Senior Comprehensive (18) should come away with three points and maintain their lead when they invite sixth-placed QRC to their ground.
League champs St Anthony's College (16) are expected to have a much tougher time when they face Malick at home. Tranquillity Secondary and Fatima College will have a tussle at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, while Morvant/Laventille will be guests of St Mary's College at Serpentine Road.
In Central, the unavailability of the Ato Boldon Stadium will mean that the two top teams in that zone, Presentation College and Carapichaima) are out of action today. The match has been rescheduled for Monday.
However, Marabella Junior Secondary will play Chaguanas Secondary at home while Union Claxton Bay travel to Tabaquite Composite for a contest between those two schools.
Today's British Gas SSFL matches
North Zone
St Anthony's v Malick, St Anthony's Grounds; Mucurapo v QRC, Fatima Grounds; Tranquillity v Fatima, Hasely Crawford Stadium; CIC v Morvant Laventille, CIC Grounds.
East Zone
St Augustine v Arima, St Augustine Grounds; St George's v Barataria, St George's, Hillview v San Juan, Marvin Lee Stadium. Valencia v El Dorado, Valencia
South Zone
Naparima v St Benedict's, Manny Ramjohn Stadium; Princes Town v Pleasantville, Princes Town; Vessigny v Mayaro, Mahaica Oval; Moruga v Fyzabad, Moruga
Central Zone
Tabaquite v Union Claxton Bay, Tabaquite; Carapichaima v Presentation Chaguanas, Ato Boldon Stadium (postponed till monday because of unavailability of ground); Marabella Jr v Chaguanas, Marabella.
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