MONTEGO BAY, St James — At least seven more hopefuls could secure places in the Inter-zone round of the ISSA/Flow daCosta Cup football competition as the return-round continues today with 31 games, weather permitting.

Rain associated with hurricane Joaquin has lashed areas of the island since Thursday evening and the forecast is that there could be more heavy rains over the weekend.

If the games are allowed to go on, then a number of teams could join the four former champions who have already secured one of the 32 places in the next round.

Cornwall Collage and St James High, who have already booked their spots, will meet today to decide the winner of Zone A.

Rusea’s High and Glenmuir High are the other schools to have advanced.

Today, Spot Valley High and Muschett High, Manchester High, Dinthill Technical, Port Antonio High, Denbigh High, Vere Technical and Paul Bogle could all join the first four.

Meanwhile, the battle in the ultra-competitive Zones E and G will continue apace as teams are still fighting to get the upper hand over their rivals.

Spot Valley will seek to return to the Inter-zone for the first time since the 2012 season, and a win at Herbert Morrison, would see them through from Zone C.

They had won the first game 3-2 and lead with eight points, five more than Muschett High who would also advance if they beat Herbert Morrison at home.

The high-flying Manchester High are expected to continue their winning run when they take on second-placed Mile Gully and confirm their place in the next round.

Manchester High won their first seven games, but gave up three goals in a 9-3 win over Belair High on Wednesday, the first time they had been breached this year.

Except for a surprise draw against Charlemont, Dinthill Technical have sailed through Zone K and face second-placed Bog Walk High who they got by 2-1 in the first round.

Rodave Murray has been in great goal-scoring form, hitting the target seven times in his last two games and could lead Dinthill, who have not allowed a goal in four games.

Port Antonio dropped points for the first time this season when they were upset by Fair Prospect on Thursday and will have a second chance to qualify when they meet Titchfield, who they had edged 1-0 in the first round.

Port Antonio are on 15 points, five up on Fair Prospect, and should they win today, will return to the Inter-zone after missing out last year.

The Zone M top-of-the-table clash between Glenmuir and Denbigh will be pivotal as there is a lot to be gained for the team that wins.

Denbigh last beat Glenmuir in the 2013 season and know that a win today would see them get out of the zone for the first time since the 2011 season.

Glenmuir are favoured to win, however, and if they oblige, would top the zone.

Many-time champion Vere Technical advanced past the first round for the first time in many years last season and will be looking to return to the Inter-zone.

To do so today, Vere must beat Kemps Hill for the first time, and if the latter were to win, they would take over as leaders in Zone N.

Paul Bogle High are one of three teams with perfect win records left in the competition and will make progress today if they can avoid losing to Seaforth High in a game slated to start at 6:00 pm at York Oval.

Paul Bogle High have won their first five games and lead St Thomas Technical by five points and another win today would see them win Zone O.

Meanwhile, at Jarrett Park, despite both teams already through to the next round, there will be much to play for between Cornwall College and St James High, not least of which will be pride and bragging rights.

Cornwall College are on 11 points, one more than St James, who have a game in hand, and are seeking to be the first team in years to go undefeated in Zone A in two straight seasons and a win would secure first place as well.

The teams had played out an exciting 1-1 draw in the first round and Cornwall have scored 11 unanswered goals in back-to-back wins coming into today’s game.

Jourdaine Fletcher and Alrick Ottey have struck up a partnership that have accounted for 12 goals so far and both have scored in their last two games for Cornwall.

St James High are also in fine form with two shut-out wins, 3-0 over Irwin and 1-0 against Green Pond High.

Rusea’s High, winners of four straight, can also top Zone B today with yet another win over Merlene Ottey, who they have never dropped points against.

Today’s games

Zone A

St James vs Cornwall

Zone B

Merlene Ottey vs Ruseas

Zone C

Herbert Morrison vs Spot Valley

William Knibb vs Muschett

Zone D

Godfrey Stewart vs Little London

Zone E

STETHS vs Munro

Maggotty vs Newell

BB Coke vs Lacovia

Zone F

Manchester vs Mile Gully

Winston Jones vs DeCarteret

Cross Keys vs Belair

Zone G

Spalding vs Bellefield

Holmwood vs Knox

Alston vs Christiana

Zone H

Kellits vs Edwin Allen

Zone I

Marcus Garvey vs York Castle

Browns Town vs Ocho Rios

Zone J

Brimmervale vs Annotto Bay

Tacky vs St Mary Tech

Islington vs St Mary High

Zone K

Charlemont vs Ewarton

Tacius Golding vs McGrath

Bog Walk vs Dinthill

Zone L

Titchfield vs Port Antonio

Fair Prospect vs Buff Bay

Zone M

Glenmuir vs Garvey Maceo

Denbigh vs Porus

Zone N

Old Harbour vs Foga Road

Kemps Hill vs Vere Tech

Zone O

Paul Bogle vs Seaforth- York Oval 6:00 pm

Morant Bay vs St. Thomas Tech