SANTA CRUZ, St Elizabeth — Defending champions St Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS) are in a must win situation against Petersfield High in their quarter-final game at the STETHS Sports Complex in Santa Cruz today if they are to qualify for their sixth straight semi-finals of the ISSA/LIME daCosta Cup football competition.

Petersfield High lead STETHS on goal difference in Group R, both on six points, but the Westmoreland school has a superior goal difference of eight to the champions’ six, and a draw would be enough to see them through to the semi-finals set for November 21 and 22.

The winners of the four groups will advance to the semi-finals and will also qualify for the Ben Francis KO competition that has been reduced to just four teams from 16 last year.

Nine of the 16 teams are still in contention for places in the last four, with Glenmuir High from Group P, Dinthill Technical from Group Q, Petersfield High from Group R, and Clarendon College from Group S all needing just a point to move on.

In Santa Cruz, despite coming off another loss to Jamaica College, this time in the Lime Super Cup on Saturday, STETHS are expected to have the upper hand, especially playing at home.

Petersfield are, however, coming off a massive win — beating a CHIKV ravaged Cedric Titus 9-2 at Frome last week — and will fancy their chances of getting at least a draw against the powerful STETHS team.

Donjay Smith, who has scored eight goals since the start of the Inter-zone round, will lead the STETHS attack against Petersfield, who have given up three goals in their previous two games.

Clarendon College have managed to slip under the radar after starting the season as one of the favourites to go all the way, but will face a desperate Frome Technical at Juici Field.

Clarendon have won the previous two games by a combined 8-2 scoreline, while Frome slipped up last week with a 1-1 draw against Marcus Garvey High and must win today if they are to make any further progress.

It will not be a walkover for Clarendon, however, as if Frome can find the form they showed in the Inter-zone round, they will be on course to make back-to-back trips to the semi-finals.

Glenmuir High, who won the third of their three titles two years ago, are seeking to return to the semi-finals and need only to draw against out-of-contention Old Harbour High in the first game of a double-header at Jamalco.

Glenmuir High have cruised so far with a 2-0 win over Cornwall College and 3-1 over Lacovia to be sitting pretty on six points and could still advance even if Old Harbour won today.

Lacovia High and Cornwall College, both on three points, would have to score big wins against each other in their game at Jarrett Park to have any hopes of advancing.

Dinthill Technical should get the point they need when they face Kemps Hill at home to return to the semi-finals for the first time since 2009.

Godfrey Stewart High will be hanging on to their slim chance, knowing a win over out-of-contention Manchester High at Frome could keep them in the picture.

Games today

Old Harbour vs Glenmuir @ Jamalco @ 1:00 pm

Garvey Maceo vs Marcus Garvey @ Jamalco @ 3:00 pm

Clarendon College vs Frome @ Juici Field @ 3:00 pm

St James vs Cedric Titus @ Jarrett Park @ 1:00 pm

Cornwall vs Lacovia @ Jarrett Park @ 3:00 pm

Godfrey Stewart vs Manchester @ Frome @ 3:00 pm

Dinthill vs Kemps Hill @ Dinthill @ 3:00 pm

STETHS vs Petersfield @ St Elizabeth Tech @ 3:00 pm