THE 2009 Toyota Classic is now down to just four teams and defending champions San Juan Jabloteh seem to have the easier assignment against St Ann’s Rangers from 6 o’clock this evening in the first match of a semi-final double-header at Marvin Lee Stadium, Macoya.

The second game should be a more closely-fought affair between 2009 Digicel Pro League champions bmobile Joe Public and Ma Pau SC.

Rangers and Jabloteh have swapped victories in the Pro League this season, with Rangers winning the first meeting 1-0 and Jabloteh the most recent clash 2-1. However, what is alarming is Jabloteh’s 6-0 hammering of the St Ann’s team at the quarter-final stage of the Lucozade Goal Shield.

With that in mind, Rangers won’t have it easy tonight.

After failing to qualify for the Pro League Big Six, Rangers had not played since September, but they edged fellow Pro League strugglers FC South End 3-2 at the preliminary stage of the Toyota Classic last week, then put out Super League club FC Phoenix 8-7 on penalty kicks after a 2-2 draw in their Classic quarter-final on Wednesday night at Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva.

With top players having left their ranks at regular intervals, Rangers will not be favoured tonight, but they are always a fighting bunch in knockout tournaments and will come to spring the surprise.

In the other semi-final, Pro League and Big Six champs Joe Public have won their last two meetings against Ma Pau, 3-1 in the Big Six and 2-1 in the Pro League. But vastly-improved Ma Pau have shown they can beat the best by scoring victories over all the top teams this season.

Ma Pau eliminated W Connection 1-0 in the Classic quarter-finals and also beat Joe Public 3-2 early in the Pro League season.

TODAY’S TOYOYA CLASSIC SEMI-FINAL SCHEDULE:

- 6 p.m. - St Ann’s Rangers vs San Juan Jabloteh, Marvin Lee Stadium.

- 8 p.m. - Ma Pau SC vs Joe Public, Marvin Lee Stadium.