In the opening match at 18:00 hrs, Milerock who won the inaugural championship way back in 1990, clash with Victoria Kings who won the 2001 title.

Then from 20:00 hrs, defending champions Fruta Conquerors meet Netrockers who have already reached the final but were denied the top honours by Victoria Kings.

With such heavyweights on show, the opening double-header should set the stage for eight play-days of exciting football, leading to the top prize of $600 000 posted by President Bharrat Jagdeo on behalf of the government.

Milerock have not been able to repeat their opening performance, although they have reached the final again, even while wearing the title of undisputed National champions.

Tonight, they start the journey to claim glory in a tournament, reputed to be the best team in the mining community some 13 years when Kashif Mohamed staked them against Aubrey ‘Shanghai’ Major’s Eagles United. They proved they were the best then.

With the seasoned Randolph Jerome still kicking up a storm in the professional arena in Trinidad & Tobago, Milerock go onto the field of play with a major plus, and, backed other senior players and fast-rising young ones, they have the artillery to advance to the next round.

But Victoria Kings also have the credentials to again claim top glory. They rose to national prominence in the 1998 championship and have retained their place as one of the country’s top clubs that produce exciting football.

The Kings nearly upset the Trinidadian professional Doc’s Khelwalaas in the final that year. Perhaps if the penalty that they were awarded was converted, they might have pulled it off.

However, Victoria achieved what they missed in the 1998, with a spectacular victory in the 2000 when they put away Netrockers, witnessed by one of the largest turnout then in local football history.

Reports indicate that the East Coast Demerara kings aim to repeat that performance, training twice daily.

They are known for strong players who can run almost non-stop through a game. Thus with the present preparation, they will be formidable.

In the feature game, undisputed national champion Fruta Conquerors of course will be favourites, with a formidable line-up of players who have proved themselves time and time again, making the club one of the richest from cash prizes won since they won their first major title some years ago.

With flair players like Anthony Abrams, Dexter Bentick, Neil Hernandez and Elroy Park, Conquerors are likely to successfully defend the title.

But Netrockers are known to be a resilient team, with national captain Charles Pollard marshalling the defence, providing an almost impregnable wall to get past. They have had good runs in the tournament, reaching the final and this could be the year that they cart off the coveted prize.