Adrian Frater, News Editor

WESTERN BUREAU:

FORMER NATIONAL champions Reno and Seba United will lock horns for the first time in the 2007-08 football season when they square off at Jarrett Park in Montego Bay tomorrow for the Dennis Barton Trophy.

Before the game, which is slated for 6:00 p.m., reigning Western Confederation champions, Granville, will also get a chance to test their mettle when they take on the Seba United Under-21 team in the 4:00 p.m. curtainraiser.

While the Seba/Reno match-up is primarily seen as a preparation game going into the 2007-08 National Premier League (NPL) season, Seba United said it is also a keen component in their quest to perpetuate the memory of Barton, who founded the club in the early 1960s. He died last September.

"This will be the first real challenge for the team since we commenced preparation for the upcoming season," said Seba United's player/coach, Theodore Whi-tmore. "In addition, it is an honour to be able to do something to honour Mr. Barton's memory since he was the architect of this club."

While Whitmore plans to unveil some of the team's new players who are gunning to be on the roster this year, the team's bid to upstage Reno is expected to revolve around seasoned campaigners Scion McNeish, Omar Reid, Glenroy Miller, Delroy Ellis, Ricardo Geddes and Whitmore.

For Reno, who had a good 2006-07 season - finishing third in the NPL competition, this game will be used to judge the state of readiness of the team, which, according to technical director, Wendell Downswell, plans to go all the way to the title this season.

While Reno will be looking to unveil a new goalkeeper, with Dwayne Kerr transferred to Portmore FC, the team will be looking to the likes of Fabian Blake, Nicholi Finlayson, Omar Dallas, Nyron Davis, Omar Johnson and classy mid-fielder Obrian 'Beckham' Woodbine, who all contributed to their success last season.