GREEN ISLAND, Hanover — Another eight schools could join the 10 that have already qualified for the inter-zone round of the ISSA/Flow daCosta Cup football competition as the race for the 32 places in the next round heats up with 30 return-leg games set for today.

The inter-zone round is set to start next Wednesday.

In the midst of the race for places, at least two zones — E and G — could go down to the final kick with multiple teams still harbouring hopes of making it past the first round.

Ten schools, five in each of the two zones, are still in with good chances of qualifying and the race promises to be intense and gripping over the next two rounds.

Today, however, a number of teams could book safe passages into the next phase of the competition, including former champions Frome Technical and Dinthill Technical.

Frome and Green Island are tied on 10 points each, but Frome have a game in hand against zone winners Rusea’s at home on Saturday and also have better goal difference than Green Island.

The teams had drawn in their first meeting at Frome and for Green Island to have any hopes of advancing they must win today and hope Rusea’s win on Saturday as well.

Dinthill Technical are well ahead in Zone K and should have secured their place already but for two draws, including a 2-2 scoreline against second-placed Bog Walk on Saturday.

Today they are away to third-placed Ewarton High, who they had blanked 3-0 in the first round.

Marcus Garvey High are expected to beat last-placed and winless Cedric Titus and advance from Zone I and, with a win and some help, Brown’s Town could also make progress as well.

Two eastern schools, Annotto Bay High and Fair Prospect, need only a point to make it through; Annotto Bay High lead Zone J with 17 points and a point from Tacky High today would see them through to the final 32 teams.

Fair Prospect are in second place in Zone L and a draw against Titchfield High would see them join Port Antonio High as the top two teams.

There will be an intriguing game in Zone A where the high-riding St James High need a win to clinch zone honours, but their opponents Green Pond could get into the inter-zone as one of the best third-placed teams, if they can win their last two games.

St James High prevailed 1-0, thanks to a last-minute penalty in the first round, but Green Pond will seek to make it to the inter-zone for the third straight year.

Paul Bogle High have already secured a place in the next round but a point from their game against Robert Lightbourne today would see them clinch zone honours.

Meanwhile, the battle for places in Zones E and G will continue, and a number of teams could be eliminated from the chase today.

Lacovia High lead Zone E with 16 points and will face fifth-placed Maggotty on nine points; second-placed St Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS) on 15 points will face fourth-placed BB Coke on 11 points, while third-placed Munro College on 13 points go to last-placed Newell.

Lacovia will be seeking a second win over Maggotty this year, while STETHS will be gunning to avenge their shock loss to BB Coke earlier, with Munro College expected to rebound from Saturday’s loss to STETHS when they meet Newell.

In Zone G, five teams are separated by three points with Holmwood Technical, leading with 14 points, taking on Christiana High on 11 points.

Knox and Spalding, both on 11 points and who drew 1-1 in the first round, will meet at Knox, while Alston will seek to improve their chances against last-placed Bellefield High.

Games for today

Zone A

St James vs Green Pond

Zone B

Green Island vs Frome

Zone D

Little London vs Petersfield

Godfrey Stewart vs Maud McLeod

Zone E

STETHS vs BB Coke

Lacovia vs Maggotty

Newell vs Munro

Zone F

Manchester vs Winston Jones

Cross Keys vs deCarteret

Belair vs Mile Gully

Zone G

Christiana vs Holmwood

Bellefield vs Alston

Knox vs Spalding

Zone H

Thompson Town vs Edwin Allen

Lennon vs Kellits

Zone I

York Castle vs Ocho Rios

Cedric Titus vs Marcus Garvey

Steer Town vs Brown’s Town

Zone J

Tacky vs Annotto Bay

Islington vs Brimmervale

St Mary High vs St Mary Tech

Zone K

Bog Walk vs Tacius Golding

Charlemont vs McGrath

Ewarton vs Dinthill

Zone L

Happy Grove vs Buff Bay

Titchfield vs Fair Prospect

Zone N

Foga Road vs Kemps Hill

Central vs Old Harbour

Zone O

Robert Lightbourne vs Paul Bogle

Seaforth vs Morant Bay