Three-time champions Defence Force will face their strongest test thus far this season when they come up against Terminix La Horquetta Rangers in a top-of-the-table encounter when matches in the T&T Pro League continues on Tuesday.
The match between the current league leaders Defence Force and second-placed Rangers, separated by four points, will be one of three matches carded for today's programme and will take place at the La Horquetta Rangers Recreation Ground, Phase II, La Horquetta.
The "Teteron Men" coming off a 3-0 road win at Pt Fortin Civic on Friday last will enter tonight's highly anticipated encounter with 23 points from ten matches, four ahead of Rangers, who are on their hunt for their maiden Pro League crown and were 8-1 victors against cellar-placed Cunupia FC.
Tonight's clash will also be a test of the Defence Force ability to silence the potent strike force of Rangers who have so far plundered 33 goals in ten matches led by the league's top scorer Jamal Creighton with eight to his name and Isaiah Lee, with six as well as Keron "Ball Pest" Cummings and Tyrone Charles with four each.
Defence Force have not be too shy in front of goal either with 17 goals to their credit led by captain Jerwyn and Devorn Jorsling, the latter the all-time leading scorer in the Pro League with 150-plus goals, both netting three items while Reon Moore has two, and Darius Ollivierra, Jelani Felix, Hashim Arcia, Shaquille Bertrand, one each.
Down at the Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva, third-placed Police FC with 17 points will be keen to get back to winning ways when they tackle Cunupia FC from 6 pm.
The Lawmen who have captured the lone title at stake so far this season, the First Citizens Cup, will enter the match low on confidence after a shock 2-3 loss to San Juan Jabloteh at the same Couva venue and will need to pick up full points to keep pace with the top two clubs.
And at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Training Field, Mucurapo, Jabloteh faces Tiger Tanks Club Sando, with the latter anxious to build on their 3-2 defeat of reigning champions, W Connection.
Two other matches are carded for tomorrow (Wednesday, February 5), with W Connection meeting Morvant Caledonia United, Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva from 7 pm while AC Port-of-Spain hosts Central FC at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Training Field, Mucurapo, from 6 pm
On Sunday last in the lone match played, Morvant Caledonia United wasted the chance to join Rangers on 19 points after being held to a goalless draw by AC Port-of-Spain at the Larry Gomes Stadium, Malabar.
SUNDAY'S RESULTS
Morvant Caledonia United 0 vs AC Port-of-Spain 0
Today's Matches
Police FC vs Cunupia FC, Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva, 6 pm
San Juan Jabloteh vs Club Sando, Hasely Crawford Stadium, Training Field, Mucurapo, 6 pm
La Horquetta Rangers vs Defence Force, La Horquetta Rec. Grd, Phase II, La Horquetta, 7 pm
Tomorrow
W Connection vs Morvant Caledonia United, Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva, 7 pm
AC Port-of-Spain vs Central FC, Hasely Crawford Stadium, Training Field, Mucurapo, 6 pm
Latest Team Standings
Teams*P*W*D*L*F*A*Pts
1. Defence Force FC*10*7*2*1*17*9*23
2. L.H Rangers*10*6*1*3*33*13*19
3. Police FC*10*5*2*3*19*10*17
4. Morvant Caledonia*10*4*5*1*11*7*17
5. Jabloteh*10*3*4*3*13*16*13
6. W Connection*9*3*3*3*15*13*12
7. Pt Fortin Civic*9*3*3*3*12*15*12
8. AC Port-of-Spain*10*3*2*5*11*24*11
9. Central FC *10*2*3*5*9*13*9
10. Club Sando*10*2*3*5*10*15*9
11. Cunupia FC*10*0*4*6*7*22*4
Leading Scorers
8 - Jamal Creighton (La Horquetta Rangers)
6 - Keion Wilson (Police FC), Kerville Jeremiah (Pt Fortin Civic), Isaiah Lee (La Horquetta Rangers),
4 - Keron Cummings, Tyrone Charles (La Horquetta Rangers), Rashad Hyacenth (AC PoS), Dimitrie Apai (W Connection), Christian Thomas, Kareem Freitas (Police FC), Shaqkeem Joseph (Club Sando)
3 - Sean Bonval (Central FC), Aaron Richards (Morvant Caledonia), Kevon Woodley (Cunupia FC), Reon Moore, Devorn Jorsling (Defence Force), Kishun Seecharan (La Horquetta Rangers), Jevaughn Humphrey (W Connection)