Koon preferred not to talk about the daring daylight robbery, saying he wanted to talk about tonight's game at Hong Kong Stadium - the last chance for Happy Valley to lift any silverware for the season.

'I don't want to talk about it [the incident]. Let's concentrate on the game and I have confidence that my boys will do the job and lift the league championship. Both sides are evenly balanced and I am sure it's going to be a very interesting game,' he said.

He then stunned reporters by saying: 'I will still offer my team $200,000 if they win the match.'

Happy Valley won the first phase of the championship, but Instant-Dict forced a league play-off by winning the second phase. Happy Valley, who have reached their third straight league grand final after winning the championship in 1999, will be missing Brazilian defender Aurelio da Silva and Lai Kai-cheuk through suspension.

The team will be further weakened by the absence of midfielder Kwok Yue-hung, who is nursing a leg injury.

Instant-Dict coach Kwok Ka-ming will be looking for a FA Cup-league double tonight with his side's confidence on a high. They have beaten Happy Valley in their last three encounters - without conceding a goal.

'We have the confidence to pull it off because we have already beaten them three times. Hopefully our stamina and our conditioning will last the whole match,' said Kwok.

Instant-Dict's Indonesian forward Rochi Putiray and midfielder Allan Lam Hing-lun will miss the game through suspension.

Both Happy Valley and Instant-Dict have held training camps in preparation for the big match. Valley sent their squad to Mission Hills in nearby Shenzhen, while Instant-Dict held their training at the Hong Kong Sports Institute.