The hunt is on for semi-final places as action in the Netball Jamaica/Jamaica National Building Society Open League knockout competition continues today at the Leila Robinson Courts, starting at 6:45 pm.

The quarter-finals knockout scheduled are University of the West Indies (UWI) Pelicans facing Jamalco; defending champions Mico ‘B’ going up against Molynes United ‘A’; Cablepro meeting Mico ‘A’; Waulgrovians ‘A’ tackling Police ‘A’.

Action in the UWI Pelicans and Jamalco game is expected to be one of the biggest clashes of the season, as both teams are yet to taste defeat in the preliminary rounds that ended on Sunday.

The Winston Nevers-coached Jamalco have been given the edge to beat the Conrad Parkes-coached Pelicans.

Nevers is confident that Jamalco, last year’s beaten finalist, should win as a result of their experience.

“I am not going to take my opponents lightly as anything can happen at this stage with everyone expecting to go all out for victory,” Nevers said.

According to Parkes, “We have a strong mid-court trio, and also a good attacking and defence combination to deliver.” They have Jamaica’s shooter Thristina Harwood as their main shooter along with Rebecca Robinson.

Meanwhile, Mico ‘B’, coached by Janet Guy, is also looking for a semi-final berth where they take on the Roy Pryce-coached Molynes United ‘A’. Mico ‘A’, also coached by Annette Daley and Janet Guy, who will be without the services of Jamaica’s top professional goal shooter Jhanelle Fowler-Reid for today’s quarter-finals, will have to dig deep to beat Cablepro.

Fowler-Reid, before leaving the island on Sunday, said: “We still have a very strong team with good shooters and we are capable of winning. I will be leaving for my third contract in New Zealand in the ANZ Professional League, which I expect to do extremely well again.”

Waulgrovians ‘A’, coached by Marvette Anderson, should get the better of the Joan Benjamin-coached Police ‘A’, despite both teams having not lost a match.

Winners and runners-up of the groups are: Group One – UWI Pelicans, SPEG ‘A’; Group Two – Mico ‘B’, Tivoli Gardens; Group Three – Cablepro, Ravens ‘A’; Group Four – Waulgrovians ‘A’, Molynes United ‘B’.

Group Five – Police ‘A’, Molynes United ‘C’; Group Six – Mico ‘A’, UTech Knights; Group Seven –Molynes United ‘A’, Alapha ‘A’; Group Eight – Jamalco, Waulgrovians ‘B’.