Western Bureau:The big clash at Jarrett Park between reigning champion St James High and four-time winners Rusea's High is poised to take centre stage this afternoon, when the 2009 Ben Francis Knockout competition moves into its quarter-final round with four games, all starting at 3 o'clock.

In the other games, five-time champions, the unbeaten Glenmuir High School, will face off with Lennon High at Jamalco, first-timers Paul Bogle High will battle Dinthill Technical at Dinthill, while Munro College will square off with Manchester High at St Elizabeth Technical High School.

Based on their short but intense rivalry, the St James High-Rusea's showdown should be intense. While Rusea's coach Anthony 'Follies' Williams is declaring a readiness to meet and defeat St James High after their first-round extra-time 1-0 win against Marcus Garvey, St James are promising to give them a taste of 'real leather'.

"We are ready to give our fans something special," said St James High's coach, Pastor Hugh Solomon, whose team drew a first-round bye after winning Zone A.

"We have been listening to the things being said but we are not concerned, we will use the football to answer at Jarrett Park," he added.

chock-full of confidence

After their impressive 3-0 spanking of Spaldings in their first-round game, Lennon High should be chock-full of confidence going up against Zone I kingpins Glenmuir, who drew a first-round bye. However, while Lennon appear intimidating, the Glenmuir team, unbeaten in 10 daCosta Cup games, should be ready for whatever their opponents have to offer.

Prior to their win against the much-vaunted Spaldings, Lennon went unbeaten in their Zone H daCosta Cup campaign, winning five games and drawing three. For their part, the Jackie Walters-coached Glenmuir went unbeaten for 10 games, winning six and drawing four. Interestingly, Lennon have scored 18 goals and conceded three, while Glenmuir have scored 29 and given up nine.

Having shocked the previously unbeaten Annotto Bay 2-0 in their first-ever Ben Francis KO game, Zone L kingpin Paul Bogle should be gunning to taint the unbeaten record of Zone J boss Dinthill. In fact, with yesterday being the 134th anniversary of the hanging of Paul Bogle, the national hero their school was named to immortalise, they may well want to do something to honour the memory of the great man.

unlikely to flinch

However, regardless of the state of mind of their opponents, the Dinthill team, which drew a first-round bye, is unlikely to flinch. In fact, with their intimidating 34 goals for and 10 against record, they are highly fancied to make Paul Bogle's first attempt at the Ben Francis title short-lived.

While not as dominant as some of the other Ben Francis KO qualifiers were in topping their respective group, the contest between Zone E champion Munro College and their Zone F counterparts Manchester High should be intriguing, based on their quiet efficiency this season.

Fresh from their first round 2-0 win against The Manning's School, the Barry Watson-coached Manchester High look a prime candidate to make the competition's semi-final at the expense of their opponents.

However, fresh from their 9-0 win against Newell in their last daCosta Cup outing, the Hopeton Gilchrist-coached Munro should be ready and waiting.

"Our aim since the start of the season was to treat every game like a final and we did so and topped our zone," said Gilchrist.

"We will be taking that same approach into the Ben Francis KO and we are hopeful that we will get the same result."

Dinthill vs Paul Bogle at Dinthill

Glenmuir vs Lennon at Jamalco

Munro vs Manchester at STETHS

St James vs Rusea's at Jarrett Park