St. George's look to rebound from a disappointing home defeat at the weekend when they take on high-flying PHC Zebras in the first round of the Friendship Trophy at St. John's field tonight (9.00).

Anticipation ran high at Wellington Oval after a morale-boosting win over North Village the previous week but Dandy Town, the league champions, knocked them down a peg with a 2-0 defeat inspired by Darron Simons.

Now they face PHC, this week's form team after a victory over Village themselves, albeit more comprehensively.

Dennis Russell, the former Young Men's Social Club forward, Raynel Lightbourne and Kenny Mills provided the finishing touches against Village and have the potential, when Stephen Astwood hits his straps, to match the firepower that made PHC a free-scoring threat throughout the past two decades.

"I was satisfied with Sunday's win," PHC coach Mark Wade said yesterday. "But that has no bearing going into a cup game where the preparation is never the same."

Wade, however, is happy to have a "selection problem" ahead of the fixture as he reports a clean slate of health.

St. George's, on the other hand, will be hoping to have Gregg Foggo back in the starting line-up after a hamstring strain kept him out of the match against Dandy Town.

"Gregg injured himself in the game against Village but I hope to have him ready for tonight," said Neil Paynter, the St. George's player-coach.

Khabir Dill will continue to deputise for Troy Hall, the former Bermuda goalkeeper, who was injured in the 2-0 defeat to Devonshire Cougars on October 7. Dill has performed admirably in an area that might have caused concern initially after Hall's injury. But it is in the outfield where the coach is asking for more.

"Losing on Sunday was definitely disappointing, especially after the win against North Village," Paynter added. "It showed that there are still a number of things we have to work on."

Tonight's first match at 7.00 sees Hamilton Parish taking on Prospect in a Shield match.

Parish are smarting from their first defeat of the season on Sunday, a 5-2 reversal at the hands of St. David's, their landlords.

Prospect have been competitive without gaining reward, but two goals in three league matches suggests a problem that could provide headaches against a free-scoring unit like Parish.