IN more ways than one, this South Central Confederation Super Eight play-off final – set for a 5:00 pm start at the Spanish Town Prison Oval will be a decider. Apart from offering the winners a place in the National Premier League play-off, this game will be a tie-breaker for DB Basovak and Jamalco.

In two preliminary round meetings this season, the sides shared a win a piece in Zone A, with Jamalco winning the first game 1-0 at their Wembley home ground and Basovak returning the favour, 2-1, in the reverse fixture at Homestead.

The St Catherine-based Basovak went on to top the group ahead of their Clarendon rivals, who finished two points back. But while Basovak tallied more points (15) and conceded fewer goals (three), Jamalco were the joint top scorers at the end of the group stage — scoring 14 times in six games, while Basovak scored 12 (three of which came in the boardroom after Newell United failed to show for their last group game).

Having registered huge victories in their respective semi-finals, both sides will also be riding high on confidence ahead of this encounter. Jamalco, playing away from home, eased by Black Stars 3-0 in Santa Cruz, while Basovak thrashed Newlands 4-1 in the St Catherine derby at the Oval.

In terms of experience at this level, Basovak, having previously campaigned in the Premier League, have the edge over Jamalco who are only in their fourth year

of existence.

With St Catherine sides winning the previous version of this competition — the South Central Super League — in four of the past five seasons, Basovak might also believe momentum is on their side. Yet Jamalco, who are contesting their first regional final, could also take solace from the fact that the last time these two parishes met in the final Clarendon emerged the victors, when Humble Lion beat Bodles on penalties five years ago at Brancourt.

Another titbit that could also serve as motivation for Jamalco is that Humble Lion have campaigned in the top tier ever since.