Finalists chase place in AFC Cup

South China and Xiangxue Sun Hei will battle for the first silverware of the season as well as a place in next year's AFC Cup when they meet in the Choi Fung Hong Senior Shield final at Hong Kong Stadium today.

The Senior Shield holders will represent Hong Kong in the regional competition next season together with the First Division League Champions, and South China convener Steven Lo Kit-shing has never hidden his desire of pitting his multi-million dollar line-up against the leading teams on the Asian continent.

'We do not only want to win in Hong Kong but in regional competitions, too,' Lo said. 'But first we need to qualify and the Senior Shield provides the perfect chance.'

Both teams have offered lucrative bonuses to their players for winning the title, with Sun Hei offering HK$200,000, while Lo, who had already paid out an incentive of HK$100,000 when South China beat unfancied Lanwa Redbull in the semi-finals, promised his players that he will top whatever figure Sun Hei have offered should his charges emerge victorious from today's tussle.

The Caroliners, however, may be without regular goalkeeper Zhang Chunhui as the mainlander needs to pass a fitness test today after getting injured in the semi-final. If he does not make it, he will be replaced by debutant Zhang Jianzhong, who is also from the mainland, as the regular stand-in Chung Ho-yin is out with a toe injury.

Sun Hei, meanwhile, will be without fullback Lee Wai-lun after the Hong Kong international was sent off for a second yellow card against Kitchee in the semis.