THE much-anticipated Inter-Secondary School Sports Association (ISSA)/ LIME Manning Cup kicks off today with defending champion Jamaica College (JC) tackling Jonathan Grant High in Group G at Catherine Hall Sports Complex in St James starting at 2:00 pm.

But for the first time in the history of the Manning Cup, all the zones will be in action on the opening day and in fact, some will have their second match just two days later on Monday, in what will be a hectic schedule of games this season.

The Manning Cup format remains the same and will be contested by 38 teams consisting of seven groups. Four zones will have five teams each, while the other three zones include six teams each.

The top-two teams from each zone, plus the two-best second-placed teams will advance to the second round. The 16 teams will then be divided into four zones of four with the winners advancing to the semi-finals.

JC, the most successful school in the Manning Cup, are howling favourites, not only to kick-start their defence with a bang, but also win the overall title.

Head coach Miguel Coley knows his team will be targeted but believes they are ready for the challenge.

“It will be difficult. We know that every team will be coming for us so we won’t be ambushed… and we expect to do well,” he told the Jamaica Observer.

JC will once again be relying on the prolific Junior Flemmings to lead the charge and the Jonathan Grant defence will have their hands full trying to contain him.

Flemmings, who led his Jamaica College team to the Manning Cup and Olivier Shield title last year, copped the Leading Goal-Scorer Award with 22 strikes and was voted the Most Valuable Player (MVP).

Meanwhile today, there will be 16 games, all scheduled to start at 3:30 pm.

In the other Group G game, St Andrew Technical High School (STATHS) will host Kingston Technical at Bumper Hall.

In Group A, Kingston College welcome Campion College to North Street, while Waterford High travel to Jose Marti High.

The highly-fancied pair of Excelsior High and Charlie Smith will bow into action in Group B, while Excelsior play away to Cumberland High and Mona High host Charlie Smith.

In Group C, the Junior Francis-coached Ardenne High welcome Edith Dalton James High; Tivoli Gardens travel to Chedwin Park to play Innswood High and Denham Town tackle St Mary’s College at home.

Group D favourites Bridgeport High are away to Greater Portmore in a derby showdown, while Dunoon host Camperdown High in the east Kingston derby. In the other, Haile Selassie High travel to Papine High.

Last season’s surprise package Holy Trinity High host Spanish Town High at the Bell Chung Oval and Clan Carthy High travel to the Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex to play Trench Town in Group E.

Three games are on in Group F with Calabar High meeting Penwood High at Red Hills Road, while St Catherine High host Eltham High and St Jago travel to the Caymanas Field to play Hydel High.