With the winner taking all, today's encounter between Hong Kong Football Club and Asahi Valley at Sports Road has added significance. This early season meeting for the traditional rivals will end with the victor receiving a gilt-edged invitation to play in the expanded Asian Dragons Inter City Series tournament.
Second best is for losers only. The pressure is on and both camps acknowledged that missing out on the six-team competition would take away a lot of gloss from the season.
'It won't be the end of the world if we lose. But at the same time we want to play in the All China series. This is a pressure game and we are looking forward to it,' said Warren Warner, Football Club skipper, yesterday.
Valley chairman Toby Bland echoed similar sentiments. 'This game has a big emphasis for us. It is one of the main prizes this season, especially the travelling bit which will bring the team closer together. But unfortunate circumstances will see only one of us go through,' said Bland.
Both Valley and Football club are feeling the pressure of having to meet in a play-off for the one remaining berth. DeA booked the other spot defeating Kowloon 21-15 on Thursday night.
Football Club are the defending champions. Last year they emerged victorious in the five team competition that included Valley (runners-up), PLA Sports Institute, China Agricultural University and Shanghai Sports Institute. This time, the event has been expanded to include Taiwan side Tao Yuan County.
