St Augustine can become the second team in the 2004 BG T&T Secondary Schools Football League to officially secure a berth in the National League finals if they can overcome the challenge of second-placed San Juan Senior Secondary when they meet in East Zone action today.
Presentation College Chaguanas have already secured the Central Zone crown.
The "Green Machine" have the added advantage of facing their nearest rivals at home and, with maximum points, will move on to the SSFL "Big Five" competition.
San Juan were on course for a tight finish with the league leaders after the end of the first round, but faltered with losses away to Hillview College and at home to El Dorado Senior Secondary.
They are still the only team with any mathematical chance of spoiling St Augustine's celebrations, but even if San Juan manage to win, St Augustine have a match in hand against St George's College and also a re-scheduled fixture versus seventh-placed Barataria Senior Secondary.
"El Do" will relish hosting Barataria this afternoon to avenge a 4-3 defeat away to them in the first round, their confidence being boosted by a big 4-1 win over Arima Senior Comprehensive last Saturday.
Also today, Arima are away to St George's College and Hillview College take on Valencia High School at the Marvin Lee Stadium in Macoya.
In the North Zone, the biggest contest today is expected to be between second-placed St Anthony's College and volatile Fatima College.
The "Tigers" need this win to keep in contention to retain their zonal title, but they must also hope leaders Mucurapo Senior Comprehensive drop a point in their next two matches for any chance of regaining National League honours.
Fatima, though, will not be too easy a prospect as they have the potential to spoil St Anthony's plans.
Malick Senior Comprehensive will be looking for a consolation in the first game of a Hasely Crawford Stadium double-header at 3 p.m. against Morvant/Laventille Secondary after they were beaten 4-0 by Mucurapo in their last match.
And Mucurapo will hope for a more comfortable win over Tranquillity Government Secondary than they had in the first round, when they got by the cellar-placed team 2-1. Mucurapo and "Tranquil" clash at the Stadium from 5 p.m.
In the South, second-place Princes Town will have a stern test in Moruga Composite when they play away to them.
Moruga have no chance to overtake P.Town in the standings, but can upset their title chase by securing points against their opponents.
Naparima continue their journey to the Big Five with a seemingly simple assignment at Pleasantville Senior Comprehensive, but Pleasantville will have other ideas, their motivation being the imminent demotion of the eighth-placed team, a place they currently occupy.
Vessigny Secondary and St Benedict's College will do battle at Mahaica Oval in Point Fortin, while Mayaro Composite face off with Fyzabad Composite at Fyzabad.
In the Central Zone, dominant Presentation College will be aiming to continue their unbeaten run against Tabaquite Composite at Tabaquite, and Marabella Junior Secondary will expect an easy game against Union Claxton Bay Secondary, while Carapichaima Senior Secondary play Chaguanas Senior Comprehensive at Chaguanas.
Over in the sister isle, Scarborough Secondary will hope to get past a tough Roxborough Composite outfit in the second match of a double-header from 4 p.m. at Shaw Park, after Bishop's High School tackle Elizabeth's College from 2 p.m. at the same venue.
17