The much anticipated Caltex League rugby encounter between defending champions Kandy Sports Club and unbeaten CR & FC will get underway at Nittawela today with both teams having a realistic chance of winning.

This will be the final match of the first round in the League this year and is expected to be a blockbuster. On current form, the table leaders Kandy looks to be better than CH but they will not be foolhardy to write off the might of the lads from Colombo, with a meager margin of 0.5 points separating the two adversaries.

This will be a vital game for both teams since the outcome of this match will be decisive when it comes to the eventual result of the championship.

Kandy, led by former Trinity College rep, Sean Wijesinghe, is expected to put aside the stutters they had in the last couple of games. Kandy, the title holders for the last eight years, look an incongruent outfit when compared with their previous unstoppable feats.

Kandy opened the season with roaring victories against Old Zahirians, Air Force, Police and Army but couldn’t maintain the same form in the last two, against Havelocks and CH & FC.

Against CH, Kandy had to come from behind after trailing 8-11 to taste victory by 30-17 last week. Even in the match against the Park Club boys, Kandy scraped through thanks to some fine efforts only in the last minutes of the match to finally win by 36-6. It was after much huff and puff that they finally managed to pull those games in their favour thanks to some late rallies by their threes.

Kandy will have to come out with all their trump cards this evening, to contain the rampant red shirts led by Shamil Mohamed, if they are to drive them out of contention for the title which CR has last won a long nine years ago under half back Champika Nishantha.

Kandy’s forte has been their fast outside backs but the forward pack is also strong giving a few headaches to the visitors.

In Saliya Kumara and Fazil Marija, they have a slick halves combination while setting the likes of Pradeep Liyanage, Sajith Mallikarachchi at centre, Sanjeewa Jayasinghe, Sameera Silva at wings and Radhika Hettiarchchi, Eranda Weerakkody, at the last line of defense, are all fine players.

Props Jeewa Galgamuwa, Kishor Jehan, locks Sumedha Jayasinghe and Shafeer Jehan, Buddhika Thalagampola along with hooker Anuranga Walpola will be the strength of the Kandy pack, while flankers Sean Wijesighe, Dilip Selvam, Senaka Bandara with number eight, Imaran Bisthamin, the contest at the breakdown will be crucial for both camps.