Holders PHC Zebras will begin their quest for a third straight Friendship Trophy title when they host Wolves in a quarter-final clash at PHC Field tonight at 9pm.

Quincy Hunt’s team have dominated the competition for the past two seasons and are now attempting to tighten their grip on the showpiece they have won an unprecedented 14 times.

“That’s the plan; to win and get to the semi-finals and hopefully defend our title. That’s the goal, defend our title,” Hunt told The Royal Gazette.

The Zebras are the favourites heading into the cup; however, Hunt isn’t taking the opposition for granted.

“Every match is a hard match for us as every team is gunning for us,” he added. “Every team wants to knock us off our perch so we have to be mentally prepared for all challenges that come our way.

“We can’t take nothing for granted. We can’t take nobody lightly because everybody comes prepared and ready to play us, and we have learnt that during the course of this season.”

Daren Usher, the PHC captain, also hopes he and his colleagues can retain their title this season and become the first team to win the competition three times in a row on as many occasions.

“We are motivated to go on a title defence charge but we have to understand that the cup is not ours at the moment,” the experienced defender said. “It’s up for grabs and there are seven other teams wanting to win it as well.

“We have to treat every game from now until the new year as if it’s a final and need to respect each opponent that we face up against and put our best performance forward every game, and it all starts with Wolves.

“As long as we trust the process and perform how we know we can I see no reason why we aren’t successful.”

PHC have been bolstered by the addition of Brooke House College Football Academy player Harlem Bean-Fox, fellow winger and Thomas College student Joshua Joseph, and Anderson College midfielder Caleb McDowell, who have returned home for the Christmas holiday.

“We are hungry to be successful and we have players coming back who are even more hungry to win,” Usher added.

PHC edged Somerset Trojans 3-2 in last season’s final at Wellington Oval to retain the trophy.

Tonight’s clash will be preceded by a First Division Shield quarter-final, pitting Southampton Rangers against Boulevard at 7pm.

Friendship Trophy quarter-final action continues tomorrow, with North Village taking on Paget Lions at Southampton Oval while Hamilton Parish and Young Men’s Social Club will lock horns for the second time in seven days at Wellington Oval. Both matches will begin at 2pm.

The remaining Shield quarter-final match-ups will see holders St David’s take on Robin Hood at Wellington Oval, while Vasco are up against Somerset Trojans at Southampton Oval, with both fixtures to commence at noon.

St David’s beat Devonshire Colts 3-1 in last year’s Shield final at Wellington Oval to deny their opponents a perfect season in the second tier.