HONG Kong champions Eastern have offered new deals to four of their six overseas players whose contracts are up at the end of the season. After clinching their second successive First Division title last weekend, the Eastern management moved quickly in an attempt to sign up striker Dale Tempest, left-winger Ross Greer, central defender or midfielder Tim O'Shea and goalkeeper Iain Hesford. A fifth overseas signing, striker Paul Nixon, is already under contract for next season. He will return home to New Zealand on Friday to continue his recovery from a torn thigh muscle. The future of Eastern's two other foreign players - Brian Hayes and Tony Sealy - is in doubt, with Sealy being lined-up for a move to Kui Tan. Nixon tore a thigh muscle in a Challenge Shield match against Rangers on November 4 and suffered two recurrences of the injury as he attempted to return to full fitness. He will have a three-month training programme with a physio to put the injury problems behind him. Eastern meet arch-rivals South China at Mongkok Stadium today for only the second time this season. In the first league encounter between the two teams, on September 19, Eastern kicked off the defence of their championship with a 2-1 victory, thanks to goals from Tam Siu-wai and Nixon. TEAMS South China: Werner Kooistra; Chan Ping-on, Marcel Liesdek, Ku Kam-fai, Chan Wai-chiu; Au Wai-lun, Shum Kwok-pui, Chiu Chung-man, Wu Qun-li; Anto Grabo, Alen Bajkusa. Eastern: Iain Hesford; Lo Kai-wah, Brian Hayes, Chiu Chun-ming, Chan Chi-keung, Lee Wai-man; Lee Kin-wo, Tim O'Shea, Tam Siu-wai, Ross Greer; Dale Tempest.
