St Elizabeth Technical (STETHS) and Manchester High will square off for the second straight year in a schoolboy cricket final when they battle it out in the Grace/ISSA knockout this morning in Mandeville.

Action bowls off at 10:00 for the 35-over contest.

The two met in last year's Headley Cup final played over three days at Alpart Sports Club, where STETHS asserted their dominance in this form of the game. The knockout cup offers more unpredictable options and both camps boast all-round capabilities.

STETHS limited defending champions Holmwood to 152 and chased comfortably in the semi-finals played in Santa Cruz.

In the previous game against St Mary Technical, they rattled up a season-best 379, with Nick Blackwood striking the team's only century, but their bowling strength was demonstrated when they shot out the same side for 63. The batting will be led by Paul Palmer Jr, Vaniel Broomfield, Mavrick Perry and Sheldon Samuels, whose unbeaten half century led them home against Holmwood.

STETHS are so talented they can either bank on spin or pace, and their most effective bowlers are all part of the national junior squads. The most notable names are Donovan Nelson and Orane Linton (spin) and the fast bowling pair of Nicholson Gordon and Richard Simpson.

For Manchester to win, their best strategy would be to exploit fully the batting conditions at home, which have seen them mount totals like 306 against Cross Keys in the first round, 377 against Oracabessa in the third and 287 against Frome in the semi-finals.

Their opening pair of Oshane Walters and Brian Clarke have had two century opening stands. In fact, Clarke hit a century against Oracabessa. However, it is at number three where they appear to have the most explosive batsman in the competition so far in captain Courtney Allen.

The national under-19 batsman has two centuries plus a 97 en route to more than 400 runs so far. His performance with the bat will be crucial to Manchester's chances.