St. George's take on still unbeaten Vasco in the first Friendship Trophy match of the season.

Both strikers missed games over the weekend because of one match suspensions.

Vasco's Basden earned his after being ejected in the Martonmere Cup final while Smith had accumulated the maximum number of points from bookings to miss St. George's Saturday evening match with Somerset Trojans.

Both players will boost their team's attacks but a key loss for Vasco will be Kentoine Jennings in the heart of defence. He was sent off in Sunday's win over PHC which stretched the team's unbeaten record to 10 games this season.

Karl Roberts looks the likely choice to switch to defence with either Billy Kirkpatrick or Franklyn Simmons filling in for Roberts in midfield.

The teams have already met once this season with Vasco winning a close Martonmere Cup semi-final 1-0 on an Earl Richardson penalty on their way to the defence of their title.

The fact that Vasco have got the better of St. George's in their recent matches will make the East Enders all the more determined and with Smith back their chances are improved. Still, Vasco should go into the clash as favourites and their victory over PHC on the weekend, when Corey Hill scored twice late in the match to break a 1-1 deadlock, should ensure that they carry the momentum into tonight's match.

The 7.00 opener features BAA against Prospect in the Shield competition. BAA won the Shield in two of the last three seasons, including in 1992-93 when they beat Prospect in the final.

Prospect lost again in the final last year when Southampton Rangers stopped them, so they still havesomething to prove in this competition.

Frienship and Shield matches will dominate Tuesday nights over the next three weeks with Boulevard taking on Southampton Rangers next Tuesday at Somerset.

The following Tuesday (December 5) sees defending champions Dandy Town meeting Devonshire Colts at BAA Field. On December 12 at PHC Stadium, North Village play Somerset.

Dwight Basden