The Hong Kong Football Association has reverted to fielding the strongest players from the First Division to do battle against neighbours Guangdong in today's Interport clash at Hong Kong Stadium.
The Hong Kong League XI contains just five local players in an 18-strong squad as the SAR look to retain the Guangdong-Hong Kong Cup, which is being staged for the 30th year.
The HKFA has used a mixture of squads in the past, from the Olympic under-23 team to the full national side and the Hong Kong League XI, but this year has decided to return to the foreigner-inclusive contingent. Last year Hong Kong triumphed when a team comprising locally-born players, all aged under-21, pulled off a 4-3 aggregate success.
The quintet of local players in this year's squad - Lee Chi-ho, Chan Wai-ho, Poon Yiu-cheuk, Peter Man Pei-tak and Chan Siu-ki - are expected to start on the bench against Guangdong, who this year will be represented by Guangzhou Pharmaceutical, the same opponents as last time. Hong Kong narrowly won that encounter in January when they came back from a 1-0 deficit after the home first leg to win 4-2 in extra time across the border.
Coach Jose Luis Lopes da Costa is hoping for a much better start in today's first leg. 'We need to get a good result at home before going to Foshan next week,' said the South China boss. 'So it will be very important to play well and get the result we need. We must use our home advantage to the fullest.'
South China players make up almost half the squad with eight players. Eastern keeper Luciano da Silva will start between the sticks today, while South China forward Detinho is expected to lead the attack. Eastern's Brazilian Fladimir Freitas, who played a prominent role in his club's 3-1 triumph over Kitchee in last week's Senior Shield final, was not named to the squad. Clubmate Rodrigo Andries Galvao, the two-goal hero in the Shield final, is another notable absentee. Defender Poon Yiu-cheuk said he was surprised only five local players had been selected. He said he was disappointed clubmate Sham Kwok-keung and Kitchee forward Lo Kwan-yee were not included.