EIGHT teams will be battling for places in the finals of the 2017 Inter-secondary Schools Sports Association (ISSA) Urban High Schools Netball Junior and Senior League with semi-final action today at G C Foster College starting at 10:00 am.

The Junior League semi-finals will see defending champions Gaynstead High taking on St Hugh’s High at midday, and unbeaten St Catherine High taking on Norman Manley High at 1:00 pm.

Meanwhile, the Senior League semi-finals are scheduled to begin at 12:00 noon with defending champions Excelsior High going up against The Queen’s School, while Gaynstead High take on St Catherine High at 2:00 pm.

Dalton Hinds, coach of defending Junior League champions Gaynstead High, believes his team has as good a chance as any to lift the title.

“Our chances are as good as anyone, and I won’t be taking my our opponents lightly, as all the teams have so far played creditably to make it to the semi-finals,” Hinds said.

He noted that the teams in the semi-finals all have good coaches and they are expected to step up their game, and it will be down to which team wants it most.

“Providing Gaynstead players play to their potential, they should win both games, as I will not be taking my opponents for granted. Every team in the semi-final has a chance and the matches should be very competitive,” said Hinds.

Meanwhile, in the Senior League semi-finals, Excelsior High, coached by Christopher Smart, said any Queen’s team is very good and the match-up should also be very interesting.

“The team, however, is not 100 per cent prepared as a result of the weather, but that is beyond my control. I am hoping that the players can execute well, play smart, and be focused,” Smart said.

Marvette Anderson, coach of The Queen’s School, said they should have a keen battle with Excelsior.