Ryon Jones, Staff Reporter

Defending champions, Harbour View, will open their title defence against Sporting Central Academy as action gets under way in the Red Stripe Premier League tomorrow, with a full slate of six games. The teams are slated to take to the field at 3:30 p.m. at Sporting's new home venue, Juici Patties Park.

The Stars of the East won the title last season by a eight-point margin, while the Clarendon-based Sporting Central staved off relegation by goal difference, finishing 10th.

The teams do have something in common, however, as both enter the season with new head coaches, as Harold Thomas has been promoted from assistant coach at Harbour View replacing Vin Blaine.

Merron Gordon took over at Sporting for the final two games of last season following the departure of Lenworth Hyde.

Thomas is cognisant that most teams will be motivated to play his team with them being the defending champions and expects this to be the case with Sporting.

"We know Sporting is a young, vibrant team and that they will throw everything including the kitchen sink at us," Thomas said. "We realise also that we wear the bullseye on our back, not just being Harbour View, but being the defending champions. We are prepared for a tough battle and we hope to come out victorious."

Harbour View have all right to be confident having not lost to Sporting in their last 12 league meetings, with Sporting's last victory coming back in April of 2009.

Harbour View will indefinitely be without team leader and creative spark Jermaine Hue as he has been provisionally suspended by FIFA having returned a adverse analytical finding while represent the national team in June.

"It is a major blow, as Jermaine (Hue) has been club leader for many years, but we are confident that it won't be too long (before he is able to play again)," Thomas expressed. "He is here and training very, very hard and focused to get going."

Gordon is not disheartened by facing the defending champions first up, but instead intends to use the match as an opportunity to assess his team.

"Some people would view it (playing Harbour View first) as a horror start, but to me that's a very good start," Gordon argued. "Because at least playing the top team from last year in your very first game is a good measuring stick of where you are and where you want to go. The approach will be to get a result from the game, but surely not losing."

Tomorrow's matches

Humble Lion vs Arnett Gardens at Effortville Community Centre, 3:30 p.m.

August Town vs Rivoli United at UWI Bowl, 3:30 p.m.

Tivoli Gardens vs Montego Bay United at Edward Seaga Complex, 3:30 p.m.

Sporting Central vs Harbour View at Juici Patties Park, 3:30 p.m.

Cavalier vs Portmore United at Stadium East, 4:30 p.m.

Waterhouse vs Boys' Town at Drewsland Stadium, 5 p.m.