By Robert Bailey, Freelance Writer

Defending Champions Calabar High and last year's beaten finalists Norman Manley High 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 the Stadium East field. Kick-off time is 3:00 p.m.

In the curtain-raiser Waterford High take on Wolmer's Boys at 1:00 p.m.

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

The teams have an identical plus two goal difference as Calabar defeated Wolmer's 2-0 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 2005 final to lift the Manning Cup, denying the inner-city school their third hold on Corporate Area schoolboy 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.

Team's defence

Robert Palmer, Calabar's captain and central defender Leo Campbell, form 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 upfront.

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 victory for any of last week's winners.

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