SPANISH TOWN, St Catherine — Meadows hope to put their disappointment of not qualifying for the Premier League at the first attempt behind them as they start their defence of the South Central Confederation Super League title this weekend.

Meadows, one of a record seven St Catherine teams contesting this year’s competition, will go up against Zone B opponents Downs FC tomorrow at the Downs Community Centre in one of two feature games on the day.

In the other match-up, relegated Premier League outfit Rivoli United start their journey back to the top-flight with a clash against newcomers Dela Vega City in a Zone A St Catherine derby at the Spanish Town Prison Oval.

The competition is, however, set to kick-off today with last season’s beaten finalists Newlands hosting returning Manchester outfit Mile Gully at the Prison Oval, Bodles tackling New Bowens at Bodles Community Centre in Zone A, while Monymusk play Naggo Head at the Monymusk Sports Club in Zone B action.

St Elizabeth newcomers Newell take their bow against last season’s semi-finalists Tru-Juice at Bybrook Oval in the other Zone B contest tomorrow.

All games begin at 3:00 pm.

Despite losing the likes of talismanic striker Devon Hodges, Kirk Ramsey and Omar Parker, Rivoli should still start favourites against Dela Vega in the first parish derby of the competition.

The Monk Street-based club, who suffered a last-day exit from last season’s Digicel Premier League, have acquired the services of respected coach Calvert Fitzgerald to lead their charge back to the topflight, and the former August Town, Waterhouse and Tivoli Gardens tactician should have a quality squad to work with.

Rivoli’s preseason preparation saw them cruising into the semi-final of the LIME/St Catherine Knockout competition with three comfortable victories, and will have the experience Derrick Planter, Fidel Anderson and Ocane Williamson at the helm this season.

Tomorrow, defending champions Meadows travel to Manchester to face a youthful Downs outfit in an unusually poor form having failed to get beyond the second phase of the parish Knockout.

But, should the lanky Ross Burton and company play to potential, Meadows, who last season won the Super League title with an unbeaten record on debut, should prove an acid test for Downs.

Downs, despite being without goalscoring machine Deshorn Brown (away at college in the United States), are expected to hold their own against Meadows, with whom they drew 1-1 in their only meeting last season.

Meanwhile, for a third consecutive season, the competition will begin without sponsorship, and Confed chairman Dale Spencer, in a release on Thursday, hailed the dedication of the 12 participating clubs whom he said “have bravely decided to carry on with their work” inspite of the financial rut, as he appealed for help.

“I believe their efforts are worthy of support,” the first vice-president of the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) said, “and I join them in (appealing) to corporate Jamaica for support in developing football and their communities, and in fact, providing opportunities to the youngsters…”