South China, Hong Kong's leading club over past decades, will be relegated if they fail to beat fellow strugglers Citizen in their final First Division league match of the season at Mongkok Stadium this afternoon. The last time they lost a relegation battle was in the 1982-83 season, but South China remained in the top flight the following season after accepting an invitation from the Hong Kong Football Association to stay up. Captain Au Wai-lun, who joined the Caroliners from now-defunct Ernest Borel in 1993, said it was embarrassing that they needed to fight against relegation until the final match of the season. 'South China are no doubt the leading club in Hong Kong and in fact I have won every available local title with them since joining the club in 1993. It is sad to see our fate come down to the last match of the season,' said Au, possibly the best Hong Kong striker of the past decade. 'The team have some very good Chinese players, but the season has been so disappointing. Many of us have failed to perform to the standard expected. But there is no more excuse now. If we lose to Citizen, we are out. It is as simple as that,' he said. Both Au and regular Yeung Ching-kwong will be back in action after missing the FA Cup semi-final against Happy Valley, but former China international Zhang Enhua is suspended and his role in central defence will be taken over by Lee Chi-ho. South China are currently second from bottom with 12 points from 13 games, while Citizen are two points ahead after the same number of matches. 'We do not feel the same pressure as South China as we just need a single point to escape relegation,' said Citizen coach Chan Hung-ping. 'However, it is not going to be easy against South China and we will just give our best in the match.'
