by EZRA STUART

ALL IS SET for today's kick-off of the 2008 Digicel-sponsored Barbados Football Association's (BFA) Premier League with a triple-header at the YMCA.

After a week's delay following last Sunday's arbitration settlement with Mpact Haggatt Hall, the action, which the fans have been eagerly looking forward to, will now get under way at 4 p.m.

Haggatt Hall, the club at the centre of the controversy, will start the ball rolling against the mighty Claytons Kola Tonic Notre Dame, followed by a 6 p.m. all-Christ Church battle between Silver Sands and the newly promoted Maxwell.

The feature match at 8 p.m. will see knockout kings, Mackeson Brittons Hill clashing with a new-look 2006 Premiership champions, Arawak Cement Youth Milan, minus their inspirational midfielder Norman Forde and experienced central defender Elvin Griffith.

The Dames will start as favourites to roll over Haggatt Hall, who will be bolstered by former Brittons Hill's left-wing player Leon White.

It will be interesting to see how Forde fits into the Notre Dame set-up, alongside the experienced duo of John Hawkesworth and John "Nobby" Parris in midfield and Dwayne Stanford in the forward line.

Romell Brathwaite, who missed most of last season through injury, will marshall the Dames' defence at sweeper, freeing up Bryan Neblett to return to his left-wing back position, where his over-lapping runs and crosses, add to their attack.

In the second game, captain Paul "Soup" Lovell, who was Silver Sands' heart and soul last season, will again have to shoulder the burden in midfield, along with veteran Ryan Brewster.

But they have added some firepower up front with Jamar "Rocker" Harewood coming over from Paradise. Maxwell will be depending heavily on strikers Kenny Sealy and Shane Cox, veteran winger Ottis Olliviere and hardworking midfielder Kevin Williams.

Youth Milan will have a new coach in Randolph Cox, who spent one season at Haggatt Hall after assisting Tony Jarvis at the Dames for many years.

Brittons Hill, with outstanding former Barbados captain Gregory "Lalu" Goodridge performing the dual role of coach/player, will be hoping for a victorious start to their quest for the Premiership title.

Goodridge will once again marshal their defence with support from Omar Archer, Paul Straughn and Curtis Blackman. But the Brittons Hill side will be without star midfielder Anthony "Del Piero" Cumberbatch, who has been suspended for the first two matches and lanky striker Travis Coppin who has to miss the opening game.

But they have plenty of options in the forward line with the likes of Dwayne Lynch, Walton Burrowes, Arantes Lawrence, Edwin Brereton and Troy Dixon, while in Cumberbatch's absence, Rondelle Vaughan and Luther Watson will have to play major roles in midfield.

This could be a tricky year for Youth Milan and strikers Kenroy Skinner and Michael Forde will have to be on song from early after a disappointing finish to last year's season.

Adrian Chase returns to the goalbars from injury but with Griffith departing for Technico, he will be hoping to get the necessary protection from Shawn Wilson and Kirk Babb.