Hummingbirds and Racers head Elite League semi-final bill at National Indoor Sport Centre

Semi-final day in the Red Stripe Flavours Netball Elite League arrives at the National Indoor Sport Centre this evening, with reigning title holders Kingston Hummingbirds lined up against St Catherine Racers in the main draw at 7 p.m.

An hour before that, league table leaders Manchester Spurs will oppose fourth-placed St Ann Orchids in the opening fixture at 6 p.m.

Kingston Hummingbirds coach Kerry Ann Brown said Racers will pose a stern challenge, though she trusts her players to come out on top.

"We are the defending champions, and we had expected that we would have topped the zone, but we came in second, which is okay because the season started a bit late and we didn't have a chance to train as much as we wanted. So coming in second is good enough. Going into the semi-final we are working to win that one and advance to the final. Racers are an excellent team. They have good shooters and experienced defenders. We are looking to counter their attack and score our goals, but we will fight straight through from the first to the last whistle," she said.

Racers coach Rasheed Joseph shares that belief in his squad and their prospects of defeating the higher-profile side.

"It is a quality team, but I believe in my ladies. As long they maintain a disciplined game, without a doubt,we will be victorious. It would be the right time to beat them because at the semi-finals, it's win or go home, and I truly believe once we can get our act together, we can put away our opponents and move on to the final. It's going to be a tough task, but we have done it before, and we are looking forward to winning it again," he stated.

In the earlier contest, Manchester Spurs carry the weight of expectation, yet St Ann Orchids coach Chad James is convinced his team can produce an upset.

"We have been building and playing better every week, and I think we are the best defensive team in the league. We have kept all the teams at their lowest score. I definitely think the trajectory that we are on we are heading in the right direction, and with a little more consistency, we will give a lot of teams trouble in the end," he commented.

Spurs coach Dalton Hinds said his players are keen to address last season's shortcomings, and reaching the final again is the immediate target.

"We are confident in our abilities and what we can do. We have a good squad, and once we execute, we should be difficult to beat. The team who wants it more will definitely come out victorious, and having been to the final last year and lost, the ladies want to ensure they get into the final and give themselves a chance of winning this time around," said Hinds.