It will be a battle decided mostly among the forwards today when Hong Kong Football Club host DeA in the First Division League at Sports Road.
Both sides are missing key members in their back division who are away on national duty with the sevens squad in Darwin. DeA will be without Mark Solomon, Chan Fuk-ping, Andrew Chambers and Ricky Cheuk Ming-yin, while Football Club will miss Chris Gordon and skipper Warren Warner. Club will also be without goal-kicker Owain Morrison, who has to face a disciplinary hearing after being red-carded a fortnight ago against Valley.
'We both are missing key players in the backs but I'm confident that we have enough cover to make up for the loss,' said DeA skipper Rob Naylor.
The absence of their star quartet has forced DeA to rethink their strategy and play dynamic backrower Logona Kerisome as a centre. Kerisome will partner Brett Forsyth in the midfield and his presence in the backs is certain to cause confusion among the Club defence.
DeA need to beat Club to insure their berth for the Grand Championship. They are currently lying in fourth place in the standings with nine points, five behind third-placed Club. Asahi Valley (24) and AMI Aberdeen (17) have already ensured their places in the four-team season-ending competition.
'We need to win and win well, preferably with a bonus point. We are unsure what will happen about our postponed game against PLA last week and we would like to settle it by winning tomorrow. We have also never beaten Football Club and this will be an added incentive for the lads,' Naylor said.
