It’s finally here.

Arguably, the four finest teams in the 2012 ISSA/Gatorade/Digicel Manning Cup football competition will be on display in today’s enticing semi-finals at the National Stadium, challenging for a place in the Corporate Area championship showpiece next weekend.

In the eagerly-anticipated curtain-raiser at 2:00 pm, the seven-time winners Excelsior High will battle with first-time semi-finalists Hydel High.

The second semi-final — set to start at 4:00 pm — should carry even greater interest for many football followers, as defending champions St George’s College face the challenge of great rivals Wolmer’s Boys.

Wolmer’s and St George’s met at this stage last year with the latter squeezing out a 1-0 win, en route to the title.

The St George’s team, coached by Neville Bell, has lost only two competitive games since 2010 and boast several national youth players, including Zhelano Barnes, Andre Lewis, Romario Jones and goalkeeper Nico Campbell.

The problem for last season’s treble winners, however, is that both those losses have come this season — a 1-2 Walker Cup Knockout loss to Wolmer’s and a 2-3 reverse in the Manning Cup second round to Camperdown High, albeit in a game of academic interest.

Bell said that despite the loss to Wolmer’s his team remains confident of defending the crown.

“We were disappointed we lost that game to Wolmer’s but we knew that they were better that day and deserved to win. They are the first team to beat us in any competition since 2010 but there is no thought of revenge on our minds.

“They have a wonderful team and wonderful players and we also have good quality. We are a confident team and we are hoping to turn up and play well this time around. This is a semi-final and we want to beat any team that stands between us and the title,” Bell told the Jamaica Observer in a telephone interview yesterday.

Wolmer’s Boys, boasting national youth players of their own in Jaheel Hyde, Jason Wright and Jorginho James, cruised in the preliminary phase but barely edged out Norman Manley High in the second round.

The Heroes Circle-based team, the 1994 champion, has not reached the final of the Manning Cup in a decade.

After seeing his team put in a good second half showing to come from behind and beat St George’s in the Walker Cup, Wolmer’s coach Ludlow Bernard is anticipating another keen contest.

“I’m expecting another competitive match against St George’s. They are the defending champions and as always it is going to take a lot to get the better of them.

“We have been progressing steadily and it’s that time when we have the belief and will to win. It’s now a matter of getting that mental aggression heading into a game,” he charged.

Excelsior, who won back-to-back titles in 2003 and 2004, suffered a surprising 0-1 defeat to minnows Greater Portmore High in the preliminary phase but recovered handily to top Group A.

Led by marksman Brian Richards, the strong form continued in the second round where they dominated Group H.

Leebert Halliman, back as coach of Excelsior, after last year guiding the unheralded Hydel outfit to the second round for the first in their brief football history, suggested that his opponents are the “strongest of the remaining four teams” in the tournament.

“I was a part of the Hydel family but now I have a job to do. Excelsior have nothing to lose so we are going out to give a good account of ourselves. Hydel have experience in the team and those players are of good quality so I see them as the favourites tomorrow (today). I think they are stronger than last year. It is a talented team and I see Hydel as the strongest of the remaining four teams,” Halliman said.

Hydel’s only loss this season came at the tailend of the second round at the hands of Denham Town High.

The Geoffrey Maxwell-conditioned unit showed no hangovers from that result, however, managing to top the second round’s Group I on goal difference against many-time champions Jamaica College.

Maxwell said his players are “relaxed” heading into the game and believes they are equipped to beat their more illustrious counterparts.

“Our intention has been to reach the final so yes, we are going there to win. We had a nice preparation this morning (yesterday) and the players looked really sharp and up for it. They are in good spirits and they are very relaxed.

“I’ve seen Excelsior play twice and I think we have the beating of them, but on match day you can never tell what will happen,” he said.

Wolmer’s Boys’ Jorginho James (left) and St George College’s Zhelano Barnes battle for possession in the Walker Cup quarter-finals on October 19 at the Constant Spring field. Wolmer’s won that game 2-1. Both teams will renew their rivalry when they meet in the semi-finals of the ISSA/Gatorade/Digicel Manning Cup at the National Stadium today.

BELL… this is a semi-final and we want to beat any team that stands between us and the title

HALLIMAN… says Hydel is the strongest of the remaining four teams

MAXWELL… our intention has been to reach the final, so we are going there to win