SOUTH China will bank on experience rather than youth for today's grudge match with bitter rivals Eastern in the Hongkong First Division at Mongkok Stadium.
After seeing a run of four successive league victories ended by Instant-Dict on Thursday, the Caroliners have changed their line-up as they attempt to avert a third hammering of the season at the hands of table-topping Eastern.
Veteran skipper Chan Ping-on moves back from midfield to sweeper at the expense of Au Yeung Ying-tsz, Koo Kam-fai returns to anchor the midfield in place of the injured Shum Kwok-pui and Loh Wai-chi is back on the right wing.
Eastern, with 27 points from nine victories, will be at full strength but the management have still to decide which player - either Lai Law-kau or Philip Chan Chi-keung - will mark South China's strong-running Bosnian striker, Anto Grabo.
Eastern have already inflicted two crushing defeats on the Caroliners this season, beating them 5-0 on the opening day of the league campaign on September 20 and following up with a 4-0 win in the final of the Camelpaint Challenge Shield on December 20.
South China centre-half George Haniotis has been on the receiving end in both matches - in more ways than one.