A marker could be put down today in Group J when joint leaders Bridgeport High and Wolmer’s Boys clash at the Spanish Town Prison Oval in the second round stage of the ISSA/LIME Manning Cup competition.

That enticing encounter is scheduled to begin at 1:00 pm and will precede the 3:00 pm fixture between Norman Manley High and Holy Trinity High.

Only the top team in each of the four second round groups advances to the semi-finals of the Manning Cup and if there is a winner in today’s curtain-raiser, that side will land on the brink of progression.

Wolmer’s Boys, the reigning Walker Cup Knockout champions, have been mostly dominant this season, and start as slight favourites against their Portmore-based rivals.

Wolmer’s, who last won the Manning Cup title in 1994, topped Group C in the preliminary round and started the second stage with an uninspiring 1-0 victory over Norman Manley High at the Constant Spring field. Wolmer’s are on three points after their lone outing.

Their coach Ludlow Bernard appeared surprised by the unconvincing display and promised improvement against Bridgeport.

The Bridgeport team is also on three points, but edge Wolmer’s based on a superior goal difference after an entertaining 4-2 win over Holy Trinity High at Constant Spring.

Bridgeport’s coaching staff, led by Tyrone Roberts, would have been particularly impressed by the physical fitness and tactical awareness shown following the sending off of a player just before the half time interval.

Bridgeport, title winners in 2001 and 2006, had a strong first round and were only second to Jamaica College in Group E.

In the second match at the Prison Oval venue, Norman Manley, who last saw Manning Cup success in 2002, are desperate to climb back into title contention, but the Alrick Clarke-coached team has to beat Holy Trinity to do so.

Holy Trinity, after topping Group G during the preliminaries, have hit a rough patch — including a Walker Cup quarter-final loss to Charlie Smith High — against higher quality opposition.

Norman Manley, second in the first round to Excelsior High in Group B, could also pose a huge challenge to Holy Trinity’s ambitions.

Both Norman Manley and the Devon Anderson-conditioned Holy Trinity are without a point.

Meanwhile, the competition will break tomorrow (Fri), but resumes on Saturday with a pair of matches in Group K at Constant Spring.

Camperdown High (three points), who last took the Manning Cup crown in 1982, will challenge current holders St George’s College (three) at 1:00 pm, while at 3:00 pm, the winless duo of Calabar High and Spanish Town High will lock horns.