MANDEVILLE, Manchester – Fireworks are expected today as the race for the four semi-final spots in the ISSA/Wata daCosta Cup will be decided as well as the other four places in the ISSA Champions Cup as the quarter-final round comes to a close with eight games.

Mathematically, at least nine schools are still in the hunt for the four semi-final spots that will go to the winners of the four groups with the runners-up joining them in the all-island competition, while the third- and fourth-place teams will contest the Ben Francis KO which has been relegated to a consolation prize this year.

The four group leaders are all on six points after back-to-back wins in the quarterfinals and will win the zone as long as they avoid losses, and in the case of Group Two leaders Clarendon College, it would take a massive loss to knock them out of contention for both competitions.

A set of former champions lead the respective group Frome Technical are ahead in Group One, Clarendon College in Group Two, Dinthill Technical in Group Three and Cornwall College in Group Four.

Most of the drama and fireworks are expected in Groups One and Three, which on paper, are still wide open, while the battle for second place in both groups, as well as Group Four are still far from being settled.

Frome Technical, the 2003 champions when they beat Titchfield High at Jarrett Park, will face a tough trip to Manchester High to face Mile Gully High in the first game of a double-header.

Mile Gully High, who eliminated defending champions Rusea’s High in the previous round, are coming off a 2-0 win over Maggotty High on Friday at the same venue and should be well rested.

Mile Gully need to win by a two-goal margin to finish ahead of Frome Technical and their comeback against Rusea’s High in the second leg of their second-round tie, to win on away goals, will give them confidence of pulling off a historic feat and qualify for their first-ever semi-final berth.

Javel Coley, Dontae Lawman and Demar Wright will lead the Mile Gully attack, but will find an equally confident Frome Technical team that have won their last three games by a combined 6-1 scoreline.

Giovauni Mittoo started the season with three consecutive hat-tricks, then cooled off, but was back on the scoresheet in Saturday’s 3-1 win over Port Antonio High, while Granville Ricketts and Alwin Hill have taken over the scoring responsibilities of late.

Port Antonio High are also on three points and will be playing Maggotty High at STETHS and a win could see them sneak into the top two, depending on the result at Manchester High.

Three schools could end up on six points in Group Three where Dinthill Technical, one of the most consistent teams the last three or four years, are leading Group Three, face an ambitious Lennon High team that are on three points. A win by two clear goals at Dinthill grounds would see them upsetting the apple cart.

Dinthill Technical will be without the services of the experienced and influential Tevin Cheese who was sent off on Saturday after scoring the winner against STETHS in their 2-1 win at Juici Field.

Roje Lane, Rushan Parkinson and Martin Beech will have to take up the slack left by the absence of Cheese, while Lennon High will look to Tyrese Harrison to lead them.

STETHS are also in contention for at least a second place spot as they will play out of contention Petersfield High at home in the second game of the double-header and a big win would put them right back bear the top, depending on the scores at Dinthill.

STETHS are on three points after losing for the first time this season and playing at home will give them a boost with the likes of Ronaldo Webster, Jahlami Green and Shamari Murray.

Clarendon College have not conceded a goal in their last six games dating back to the first round and have outscored teams 27-0 and are expected to beat St James High at this stage for the second straight year after a 3-1 margin last year.

Clarendon College boast a mammoth goal-differential of nineand it would take a massive loss to deny them a place in the semi-finals.

Manchester High should get the second place spot with a win over Old Harbour in the second game at Manchester High and ensure safe passage to the Champions Cup first round.

Cornwall College return to the familiar confines of Jarrett Park after wins against Charlemont High at Bramwell Clarke Complex in Ewarton and Garvey Maceo at STETHS and will face a Glenmuir High team that have not fared well in the quarter-finals in the last three years.

Glenmuir High have lost five-straight games in the quarter-final, losing all three last year and both so far this year and have drawn one of the last 11 games at this round.

The team have shared 2-0 win in their last two meeting at this level, Glenmuir winning in 2014 and Cornwall College returning the favour two years later.

Today they are two teams going in opposite directions, Cornwall College unbeaten in 14 games this season and scoring three goals in each of their last five games, including a forfeit at the end of Zone A against Maldon High.

The Dr Dean Weatherly team managed three goals against a tough Garvey Maceo team despite Aiden Jokomba being kept off the scoresheet for the first time in four games.

Shavon McDonald has scored in back to back games after a long goal drought while Solano Birch and Matthew Thorpe have also been getting on the scoresheet.

Glenmuir on the other hand have scored just two goals in their last four games after hammering Cross Keys High 13-0 in their final Zone M game two weeks ago.