THE territory's top club, Eastern, provide seven of the Hong Kong team for tonight's ninth Interport Cup match against Shanghai at Mongkok Stadium. Central defender Chan Chi-keung and left-back Lee Wai-man will feature in the back four, while the entire midfield is made up of Eastern players - Lee Kin-wo, Tim O'Shea, Tam Siu-wai, who is joining Rangers, and Ross Greer. Up front, Eastern's leading scorer, Dale Tempest, will be partnered by South China's Au Wai-lun. The team is completed by Instant-Dict goalkeeper Chan Sau-yin, Kitchee's South China-bound Yau Kin-wai at right-back and Instant centre half Yan Lik-kin. Hong Kong coach Chan Hung-ping, who is also the Eastern coach, said: ''We don't have to worry about the attacking side of the game because most of the forward players are from Eastern. ''At the back it's slightly different, so we'll be looking to O'Shea to make sure there is co-operation in the defence.'' Hong Kong won last season's match on a penalty shootout in Shanghai after a 0-0 draw but coach Chan feels the mainlanders will be a stronger side this time. ''They have two Russian players in their team - on the right wing and in midfield - and have won four games in China's new professional league,'' Chan said. With O'Shea, Greer and Tempest filling the three overseas places, the player to miss out from the original squad is Instant centre half Roddy Manley. Russian professionals, right-half Alexandre Zakhartov, 33, and striker Vladimir Nakhratov, 20, had played for Russian First Division club Smena-Saturn and both come from St. Petersburg. Their third Russian import, goalkeeper Demtriu Kouts, did not make the trip due to personal business commitments. Shanghainese coach Xu Jenbao said: ''We had a good work out today and we are confident of reclaiming the trophy.'' Nakhratov, is carrying a slight thigh injury as is defender Mao Yijun and midfielder Liu Jun but Xu said he expects all three to play today. Hong Kong (4-4-2): Chan Sau-yin (Instant-Dict); Yau Kin-wai (Kitchee), Chan Chi-keung (Eastern), Yan Lik-kin (Instant-Dict), Lee Wai-man (Eastern); Lee Kin-wo (Eastern), Tim O'Shea (Eastern), Tam Siu-wai (Eastern), Ross Greer (Eastern); Au Wai-lun (South China), Dale Tempest (Eastern). Shanghai: (4-4-2): Cai Jianlin; Yao Jun, Shen Si, Mao Yijun, Wu Bing; Liu Jun, Zhu Jun, Alexandre Zakhartov, Li Xizo; Vladimir Nakhratov, Zhu Oi.
