SANTA CRUZ, St Elizabeth — Newly-crowned ISSA/Pepsi/Digicel daCosta Cup champions St Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS) will seek to draw first blood against Mannings Cup kingpins St George’s College in the Olivier Shield this afternoon at 3:00 pm at the St Elizabeth Technical Sports Complex.

In the 1:00 pm curtain-raiser, ISSA Rural Area Under-14 champions Cornwall College and Urban Area champions Jamaica College will meet for the all-island title.

STETHS are coming off a 1-0 win over Manchester High in the daCosta Cup decider at Jarrett Park on Saturday, and are confident they will give a good account of themselves on their home field.

Andrew Edwards, who coaches the STETHS team, was cagey when he spoke to the Observer yesterday, saying he was not sure which 11 would take the field as he has some injury worries including one to main striker Deshorn Brown.

On Saturday Brown had to leave the fled in the first half following a collision with the Manchester High goalkeeper Michael Parcells, and while he retuned to score the winner, Edwards said the player was still feeling the effects of the blow at training yesterday.

The coach said it was touch and go as to what role the influential Brown would play and the final assessment would be made this morning.

If Brown is not able to take on the work load, Denmark Gillings and Kevon Farquharson will lead the STETHS team who will be seeking the advantage going into Saturday’s return leg in Kingston.

Additionally, regular central midfielder Ramone Reid, who sat out Saturday’s game due to yellow card accumulation, is also nursing an injury and Edwards said he was not certain to start.

Edwards had problems with the scheduling where the Manning Cup champions had up to 10 days between games, while the daCosta Cup champions had to turn around in less than four days after an emotional high to face a well-rested team.

He bemoaned the fact that the scales were tilted in favour of the Manning Cup and Olivier Shield champions who he said also had the chance to scout the rural area champions.

Meanwhile, Marcel Gayle, the assistant coach to Neville ‘Bertis’ Bell at St George’s, shied away from the word “confident”, preferring to say his team “was aware of our opponents and know what we have to do”.

He admitted they used the opportunity to scout the STETHS team and said the edge was “we are the defending champions”, conceding that the break since their Manning Cup final win over Bridgeport gave them time to rest and get over minor injuries.

While saying that STETHS should have “momentum in their favour” after playing on Saturday, he was of the opinion that playing in Santa Cruz would cause the home team “psychological pressure” as they would be pressing hard to ensue they get the advantage.

Gayle said St George’s would have all their players available for today’s game and this should include Manning Cup final heroes Marvin Morgan who scored twice and McKauly Tulloch who scored in extra time to give their school their 19th hold on the title.