A BATTLE royal is on the cards when the man they call ''The Tsar'' in the Sampdoria defence confronts the goal king of Eastern in the Satchi Italy Cup exhibition match at the Hong Kong Stadium tonight. Pietro Vierchowod, the 35-year-old son of a Russian immigrant and imperious in the centre of the Samp defence, has built up a reputation as one of the great man-markers in Italian football. But Hong Kong's toeams - venture into the territory. Tempest, who has scored 24 times in domestic competition this season, put three past Brazil's world club champions Sao Paulo when he was a guest player for South China in an exhibition match at the new stadium on April 5 . . . an achievement which has not gone unnoticed by Sampdoria's Swedish coach, Sven Goran Eriksson. ''I have watched the game on video and the centre forward played very well and took his goals very well,'' said Eriksson. ''Now he can look forward to an evening with Mr Vierchowod.'' Eriksson, whose previous clubs include IFK Gothenburg, Benfica, Roma and Fiorentina, named his team after a training session yesterday and Vierchowod features in a three-strong defence, with Stefano Sacchetti to his right and Marco Rossi to his left. Attilio Lombardo and Michele Serena will operate the flanks in a five-strong midfield, with England skipper David Platt, former Red Star Belgrade midfielder Vladimir Jugovic and Riccardo Maspero, on loan from Cremonese, throughp striker, Dale Tempest, has proved that reputations count for nothing when more illustrious club sides - and even international t the middle. The two strikers will be Mauro Bertarelli and Andrea Tentoni, who has also been borrowed from Cremonese with a view to a permanent move. In the absence of Italy's top goalkeeper, Gianluca Pagliuca, second-choice Giulio Nuciari will keep goal. A hamstring injury has ruled out Roberto Mancini, although Eriksson said he may give his captain a run-out in the second half. ''I'm a bit afraid to play him because he's been out for three weeks; as much as the crowd would like to see him, I can't risk playing him and then losing him for two months,'' said the coach. Although Eastern left-back Lee Wai-man can expect a busy ee nickname of ''The Incredible Hulk'' from Diego Maradona during the Argentine's days with Napoli and Milan's Dutch centre forward, Marco van Basten, described him as ''very hard but fair - not a dirty player''. Eastern will field the same team which started Sunday's FA Cup final against Happy Valley, a match they won 4-1 with two goals apiece from Tempest and midfielder Tam Siu-wai to claim their third trophy of the season. It will be Tam's final game for Eastern before a money-spinning move to Rangers as Eastern team manager Peter Leung said the player would not be included for Friday's final league match against Instant-Dict. Eastern goalkeeper Iain Hesford hurt his shin in a freak accident at Happy Valley yesterday but looks certain to play tonight. Hesford was playing with some youngsters when he stepped into a hole and suffered a nasty cut which needed nine stitches at the neighbouring Hong Kong Sanitorium. ''Fortunately it was only a superficial injury and Iain should be able to play in the Satchi Italy Cup tomorrow night,'' said Leung. Tonight's event is on course to set a record crowd for a football match in Hong Kong. The capacity of the old stadium was 28,000 and advance ticket sales suggest a crowd of between 32,000 and 35,000. Meanwhile, Leung will have talks with the experienced defender or midfielder, Trevor Quow, tomorrow. Quow, whose career in England took in Peterborough United, Gillingham and Northampton Town, played for Instant-Dict last season and Rangers this season but does not know if he will be retained. As Eastern look to strengthen their squad, Leung will discuss terms with 33-year-old Quow. Sing Tao are also interested in Quow, whom Rangers refused to allow to move to Eastern when the champions made a mid-season bid. In other news, central defender Roddy Manley has turned down a transfer to Dundee in Scotland to stay with Instant-Dict.