The third place play-off will between Camptown and Santos from 18:00 hrs.

President Bharrat Jagdeo is expected to be at the final, as he has done in the past couple of years.

Some $1.2 million in prizes will go to the top four teams, with the winners taking half-million cash and $100 000 in kind, along with the championship trophies. The $600 000 was donated by President Jagdeo.

The second-placers will receive $300 000 and third-placers $200 000, compliments of the Ministry of Sport, while the fourth-placers will get $100 000 put up by Swiss House Cambio.

Apart from the generous prizes, this final will turn out to be a proving ground.

Western Tigers have made it this far for the first time, having participated in the tournament since 1994. Even when they became the undisputed National champions in 1995 with first-ever club championship title, the Carib League, and the NBIC knockout crown, they did not go far.

Conquerors, on the other hand, reached the final but failed to cart off the top prize in 1999, losing to Topp XX.

The orange jersey Fruta boys are the reigning National champions but their performance in the tournament lacks the flair of champions, especially with internal bickering that left creative midfielder Neil Hernandez in the cold, clearly visible with an unimaginative link.

Many a football buff contended that Conquerors had a lucky road to the final, barely putting away newcomers Rose Bowl 1-0, and squeezing past Milerock (1-0), who started out with an impressive 5-0 win over Cougars.

From that opening game, Milerock seemed the most likely champions, having played an all-round game, raiding with nice, neat passes.

Opponents in the semifinals, Santos, also had a lucky run to that stage of the competition and that encounter proved to be a boring affair.

Conquerors have one plus in their favour. The hard working Charlie Rose will be back in midfield, having had to sit out the semifinals, victim of a red card, which was no surprise because he was carrying the game.

The National champions still boast one of the deadliest striking lines in Dexter Bentick, Kevin Grimes and Anthony Abrams who was out of position in the midfield for the semis and played miserably.

Western Tigers have displayed the thirst for winning, which was the edge they had over favourites Camptown in the semis. Eron Hayde is accurate as ever and was promoted to the starting line-up, after running on from the bench in the first two encounters.

More importantly, the Tigers have fielded a rounded team, with Rayon Thomas busy in the midfield, and a solid defence, led by captain Delon Fraser. They, however, have to carefully choose the goalkeeper for this final because Rollox Scott did a poor job in the semis, whereas Dwayne James had a commendable performance in the quarter-finals. They have changed goalkeepers for all three matches to date.

But the winner will not be a foregone conclusion. This will be a pride match, apart from the prizes, providing fertile ground for an exciting encounter.

The third place play-off would seem a foregone conclusion with Camptown most likely taking that prize.

Fans had the chance of purchasing advance tickets at $700 and several entrances will be available for holders to have easy admission. Also, there will be separate exits to facilitate freer movement.

A fence has been erected around the play area, one of the several security measures put in place. Fans are being urged to desist from setting off firecrackers.