Happy Valley manager Lim Fong-kee doesn't want his title-defending team to be crowned champions without having beaten their main rivals this season as they virtually have the title in the bag if Sun Hei lose to South China on Sunday.
'I don't want my team to win the league by cashing in on our rivals' mistakes throughout the season,' said Lim after their 11-0 hammering of Hong Kong Football Club earlier this week shot them atop the table and built a huge goal difference with only one game to go.
Lim added: 'I hope Sun Hei beat South China on Sunday, so we can win the title graciously by beating Sun Hei in our final game next month. I don't want my team to win the league title without having beaten Sun Hei [and South China] this season.'
Happy Valley's poor records against their rivals included defeats to South China in both the league and the League Cup and a 4-1 humiliation by Sun Hei in the Shield semi-finals.
The race for the league title took a dramatic turn after one-time leaders South China dropped out of contention after their stunning 2-0 loss to Buler Rangers and 3-2 defeat to Xiangxue Pharmaceutical. Happy Valley meanwhile built up a net goal-difference of 30 goals compared with South China's 18 and Sun Hei's 13 after netting 19 goals against minnows Club in two matches.
That means even if Sun Hei beat South China on Sunday, Happy Valley will still win the championship if they draw against Sun Hei in the final game. Sun Hei need to win both matches to capture their first ever trophy. League Cup and Shield champions South China will have to settle for minor places.