All is set for today's big ISSA/Pepsi/Digicel Manning Cup semi-finals at the Harbour View Mino Stadium.

In the curtain-raiser at 1 p.m. Bridgeport High will oppose St Andrew Technical High (STATHS) before defending champions St George's College tackle Excelsior High.

Bridgeport secured their spot in the semi-final after topping Group Two with six points to edge Waterford (six) and Eltham (six) on goal difference.

Anthony Patrick, coach of Bridgeport, who last won the Manning Cup title in 2006, said his players were very optimistic and raring to go.

confident

"We are very confident because are coming off a big 8-0 win over Waterford in the last game and the players are really looking forward to this game," said Patrick.

However, Patrick noted that STATHS are a very good all-round side and he won't be taking them lightly.

"They have done well because they are a very good unit and so I am expecting a very tough and exciting contest from them," Patrick said.

The St Catherine-based team will be depending heavily on the competition's leading goalscorer Darren Mattocks, who has hit the back of the net 23 times this season.

Mattocks is expected to get good support from midfielders Jamiel Hardware and Adoah Nickle.

Meanwhile STATHS, who last won the title in 1987, was knocked out at this stage last year by eventual champions St George's College. However, Keith Nichols, coach of STATHS, said he was confident that his team can go all the way this time.

tactical football

"We are going to play some good tactical football because we went out at the semi-final stage last year. We would love to win the title this season and I believe we have the team to do it," said Nichols.

"We are very confident, but not overconfident because we know that the Bridgeport team is a very dangerous one and we will have the be at our best to beat them," said Nichols.

STATHS will be relying heavily on strikers Jermaine Reid and Kemo Grant, and midfielders Andrew Christie and Orlando Henry.

St George's, who were beaten by Jamaica College in the final of the Walker Cup competition earlier in the season, will have to be at their best to defeat Excelsior, who have been improving with every match and could be nearing their peak just now.

The 'Bertis' Bell-coached St Georege's will be relying heavily on striker McKaully Tulloch, midfielder Marvin Morgan and defender Oniel Fisher, while Lebert Halliman's key players will be Neco Brett and Damani Stewart.