Digicel Pro League leaders Central FC will be out to make a giant step towards a first-ever league crown when it entertains defending champions and second-placed DirecTV W Connection at the Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva from 8 pm.
As it stands, the Zoran Vranes-coached Central FC, winners of the First Citizens Cup, Rawle Fletcher (Round One) and Akeem Adams (Round Two) trophies so far this season sits atop the nine-team table with 38 points from 17 matches, five points clear of reigning champions DirecTV W Connection, which has a match in hand while Japs North East Stars is third with 29 points, three more than Pt Fortin Civic and Defence Force.
Play Whe San Juan Jabloteh is sixth with 23 points followed by Police (20), Caledonia (19) and cellar-placed Rangers, with a mere point.
However, tonight's feature match at Couva is expected to go a long way in determining who will have their names engraved on the trophy at the end of the season as title winners.
But while both teams' coaches are certain that a win for either side will increase their chances of lifting the crown, both also know it won't decide the title as there is still a long way to go.
Speaking on the eve of the match, Vranes, who led his team to a 1-0 win over tonight's opponent in round two league play, said: "If we win against W Connection we are in very good position but it wont decide anything because we have other matches left and we already got a lesson in the second round, losing to Defence Force and Jabloteh."
The Central FC coach added, "It will be a tough game as always against W Connection but I believe in my players to do their best although we never know what could go wrong. It is tougher for them (W Connection) than for us. They need to win because of the points difference but if we play smartly I expect a good result for us."
W Connection coach, Stuart Charles-Fevrier, who has led his club to five league trophies echoed the views of Vranes saying: "I don't believe it will decide the title as all eight games that we have in the round will be important."
"I think football is on the day," continued Charles-Fevrier and in the modern game I don't think any team is unbeatable. We have as good a chance of winning the game as Central. It will be an interesting game that could go either way. Our objective is to have it go our way."
With nearly half his squad under the age of 21 this season and the team at somewhat of a transitional period, Fevrier still believes his current squad can retain the DPL title.
"We have a squad that is capable of retaining our league title and I will do every thing as coach to make our players believe in themselves because I believe they can do what is required. This season is a kind of transitional season for us with 50 per cent of our squad under the age of 21. But most of our players have been playing at a good level for the past two years.
"Now we want to turn them into winners because we are a team with a very good winning track record and we want to pass that on to our younger players, " added Charles-Fevrier who led W Connection past Central 1-0 in the Digicel Charity Shield last September before both teams drew 1-1 in the opening league round.
Tonight's encounter also brings together four of the season's top scorers in W Connection's Jerrel Britto, who along with Defence Force's Devorn Jorsling leads with ten goals each, and Central FC trio, Ataulla Guerra (8), Marvin Oliver and Willis Plaza, both with seven and Jason Marcano (five).
Two hours earlier at Couva, Pt Fortin Civic host Stars as both teams jostle for third spot while at the Marvin Lee Stadium, Macoya, Jabloteh meets Rangers from 6 pm, and Defence Force battles Police FC from 8 pm.