Nodley Wright, Freelance Writer

THE STARS of the East, Harbour View, head to St. Elizabeth to meet the Pride of the West, Reno of Westmoreland, at St. Elizabeth Technical in the second end-of-round final of the Wray and Nephew National Premier League (NPL) today.

Having secured the first end-of-round title at the expense of the NPL's defending champions Waterhouse, Harbour View stashed away their second title, the KSAFA Western Union Jackie Bell Knockout, when they stopped Boys' Town on Wednesday.

When the clock reads 3:00 p.m. today, they will go in search of their third crown of the season and, as expected, they are very confident.

"The mood in the camp is great. We are confident, the spirit is high and the players really enjoyed themselves in training on Friday," coach Lenworth Hyde told The Gleaner as he looked forward to today's game.

Just one downside

They have just one downside to their game as their squad will be without three key players. Out are Donald Stewart, who has enjoyed a national rebirth, recently capped Kavin Bryan and midfielder Richard Edwards. All three are out on accumulation of yellow cards.

That though is not a major concern of Hyde's.

"These are three regular starters who will be missed, but we have replacements. There are people like Richard West and Kemar Petrekin and there was already Fabian Taylor," explained Hyde.

He will have others such as Lovel Palmer, Jermaine Taylor, Kemeel Wolfe, Oneil Smith, Clifton Waugh, Robert Scarlett and the little maestro, Jermaine Hue, who recently returned to the fold, to call upon.

Reno are very much aware of what Harbour View will bring to the game but are not intimidated.

"Harbour View will definitely start favourites because of the depth of their squad and what they have achieved this season but that will not affect us at all," said coach Wendell Downswell.

"We have played them twice so far this season, losing the first game and beating them in the second at STETHS," the former national coach said.

What will also be spurring on the Westmoreland team is the fact that this is its first national final since 1995.

"This game means a whole lot to western Jamaica. We have been out of the top tier of the country's football so long. So for us to be here now is a validation of the effort that we have put in and a victory would put the icing on the cake of our improvement," said Downswell.

Unlike Harbour View, Reno will be at full strength.

Apart from Jamaica Under-20 goalkeeper Dwayne Kerr, they will also be looking to the likes of Ricardo Scott, Kirk Wright, Kendrie Quarrie, Nyron Davis, Patrick Graham, Dwayne Williams, Nicholi Findlayson and Fabian Blake to lead them home.

The winners will receive $165,000 and a trophy, while the losers will take home $135,000.

This game will be preceded by an interesting clash between many-time winners Portmore United and Tivoli Gardens in the Under-21 end of second round final set to kick off at 12:30 p.m.