Manchester's Gary Graham

If the rains stay away, today's final of the Jamaica Cricket Association (JCA) All-Island Limited-Overs competition between defending champions Melbourne Kangaroos and reigning two-day champions Manchester Lions at Chedwin Park could be a match-up worth travelling miles to see.

A showdown between two of the island's top clubs, the match will parade an array of national players who, with club pride and egos on the line, are expected to go all out to get the better of each other.

The game, which is slated to start at 9:30 a.m., will see Melbourne captain Carlton Baugh Jr and Nikita Miller teaming up with the likes of the increasingly dependable Donovan Pagon, fast-improving former youth opener Jon-Ross Campbell and all-rounder Yannick Elliott, as the men from Courtney Walsh Drive seek their ninth hold on the title in 11 years.

tough challenge

Melbourne's Carlton Baugh

That said, however, they are expected to meet up on the tough challenge of Manchester who, with a cadre of outstanding performers and after claiming the two-day title earlier this year, reached the final of the inaugural Twenty20 competition and are in the form of their life.

"It is sort of a major grudge match. They defeated us the semi-finals of the Twenty20 and narrowly beat us the two-day Super League. But that said, that is the past and we plan to play good, intelligent cricket and defend our crown," said Baugh, whose charges got the better of St Catherine in the semi-finals, also at Chedwin Park.

Manchester, who defeated Kensington in the semi-finals, will look to left-arm pacer Krishmar Santokie, stylish middle-order batsman Donovan Sinclair, outstanding young opener Zeniffe Fowler, captain Gary Graham and a batch of former and present youth players who, led by inspirational coach Barry Barnes, have been stealing the headlines.

"It's going to be an interesting game. Melbourne will be tough, but we are up to the challenge," said Graham. "We are playing some very good cricket, and after outstanding performances in the two-day and Twenty20 we are looking to finish on a high."