by EZRA STUART

FOOTBALL FANS will finally get to see the clash of St Michael powerhouses Claytons Kola Tonic Notre Dame and Mackeson Brittons Hill which they have been waiting for all season in the Digicel Premier League.

Perennial champions Notre Dame and crowd-pulling knockout kings Brittons Hill battle in the feature match of a triple-header at the YMCA tonight at 8 p.m.

Desperate

Mpact Haggatt Hall and Technico, both desperate for a win to move away from the relegation zone, will get the ball rolling at 4 p.m.

This game will be followed by a 6 p.m. showdown between leaders Gera-tec Maxwell and their Christ Church neighbours Gall Hill.

The Dames/Brittons Hill encounter will showcase a number of past and present national players, with some of the oldstagers hoping to show that they are still capable of playing at the top level.

Rhythm

After a slow start to the season, the Dames now seem to be finding their rhythm and trail leaders Maxwell by just one point after their 3-0 victory on Thursday night in the top-of-the-table clash.

Barbados' captain Norman Forde has returned after resting a groin injury. He will be joined by former national player John Hawkesworth, who missed the first four matches through suspension, and the hard-working Jeffrey Williams in perhaps the strongest midfield in the land.

But Brittons Hill also have a trio of top midfielders in Anthony Cumberbatch, Rondelle Vaughan and Luther Watson, while the evergreen Gregory "Lalu" Goodridge can orchestrate plays from any position.

Hence, the match could be decided by which team of midfielders can create and convert their chances.

At the back, Wayne Sobers and John "Nobby" Parris have been rock solid for the Dames in the absence of injured national sweeper Romell Brathwaite, but the duo could have a tough time keeping Brittons Hill strikers Dwayne Lynch, Walton Burrowes and Arantes Lawrence at bay.

If only six-footer Travis "Angus" Coppin was more clinical in front of goal, Brittons Hill would be an extremely difficult side to beat.

At the other end, Dames, who have had to do without Barbados striker Dwayne Stanford in recent matches, will be looking to former national trio Jerry Alexander, Ryan Lucas and Dwayne Gale for goals against the Brittons Hill defence, marshalled by André Gibson and Ryan Straughn.

Tough time

In the middle game, Maxwell will have a tough time against Gall Hill rebounding from their loss to the Dames without suspended pair Justin "Tuffy" Belgrave and Randy Barnes.

Veteran Ottis Ollivierre, who missed a sitter in the dying stages against the Dames, may be asked to start and assist Shane Cox up front.

In midfield, Wendell "Coach" Farrell and Kevin Daniel will battle for supremacy against Gall Hill's Renaldo Marques and Andrew Butcher, while free-kick specialist Andrew Tudor will be a key weapon for Gall Hill coach Andy Coward in "dead-ball" situations.

Physical play

Maxwell goalkeeper Oliver Hinkson and defenders Julian Mottley, Andre Wiltshire, Earl Jackson and Troy Speede will also be looking to thwart the likes of Sherwin Success, Ryan "Shaky" Griffith and Jason Goodridge.

One aspect of the football which needs to be addressed is the physical play and flagrant fouls. Coaches and managers must warn their charges that such violent conduct on the field will not be condoned.