W Connection and Central FC will renew their rivalry from 6 pm this afternoon at the Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva when they meet in the $10,000 Digicel Charity Shield, which serves as the curtain-raiser for the 2014/2015 TT Pro League.
In 2012, W Connection blanked Defence Force 2-0, last year when both teams met again, the "Savonetta Boys" ran out 4-2 winners.
Today, the Stuart Charles-Fevrier-coached W Connection, will enter as last season's Digicel Pro League and Digicel Pro Bowl winners–both deciding tournaments for the Charity Shield contenders while Central FC qualified as League runners-up under Englishman Terry Fenwick.
The head-to-head between Connection and Central last season stands at a deadlock of three wins and one draw each.
But Connection topped the 'Sharks' two titles: Toyota Classic and Lucozade Sport Goal Shield, by finishing the season with five titles: Digicel Pro League, FA Trophy, Toyota Classic, Digicel Pro Bowl and Charity Shield.
Since their last meeting, a pre-season break and a change in coach at Central, employing 63-year-old Serbian coach Zoran Vranes, will definitely add a fresh take on the young but bitter rivalry.
"I hope we will win," said Vranes, speaking at Thursday's pre-match press conference of the 2014 Digicel Charity Shield at the Pro League's office in St Augustine.
"They (W Connection) have had enough," continued Vranes, a former T&T Under-20, Under-23 and senior team assistant coach. "But W Connection are always a very serious opponent and we know that it won't be an easy game."
Just as Central, W Connection are in a transition phase with a quite a number of new recruitments after transferring a number of players to European clubs, but the ambition to hunt every title available hasn't faded.
"We still feel that we are capable, although we are in transition, to get results," said Charles-Fevrier during the pre-match press conference.
"The objective for us is always to win whatever competition we take part in. That's what I always ask players for: to win games, trophies and qualify for competitions. That's what we get paid for."
Fevrier, the long-standing and very successful Connection, played down the rivalry between his side and Couva neighbours, Central FC, saying, "I always laugh when people say that Central (FC) are our rivals.
"I expect the Charity Shield to be a very competitive game. Central have a very good squad and for me it's a game that can go either way. It all depends on the day. Both teams have the capability to get good results. Vranes has been around the league for many years and Central were a very good team last season, and I expect them to continue under Vranes."
For tonight's encounter W Connection will be without midfielder Joevin Jones, who joined Finland's HJK Helsinki, and defender Daneil Cyrus, who is attached to Vietnam club Ha Noi T&T, while midfielders Jomol Williams and Neil Benjamin Jr, and defender Alvin Jones are currently seeking European moves.
Under-20 players Aaqil Campbell, Jabari Mitchell and Martieon Watson have been promoted from the W Connection reserves, while former San Juan Jabloteh players Aikim Andrews, 18, Akeem Garcia, 19, Triston Hodge, 19, Shannon Gomes, 17, and Maurice Ford, 18, have joined the club.
However, Mitchell, Watson, Andrews, Garcia, Gomes and Ford will not be up for selection along with W Connection reserve midfielder Mathew Woo Ling along with Central FC's Levi Garcia, Nicholas Dillon, Kevon Goddard and goalkeeper Javon Sample, as the 11 players were all on international duty with the T&T Under-20 team last night against Haiti in the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) Under-20 Championship final.
The Central "Sharks" also go into the contest minus last year's key performers in forwards Willis Plaza and Rundell Winchester, and defenders Yohance Marshall, Jamal Jack and Elton John.
The trio of Plaza, Winchester and John have all joined Fenwick, at Belgium Third Division outfit CS Vise, while Jack is on loan to Guyana's Alpha United until December and Marshall is presently listed as unattached.