Rekdal ready to stop Start

Rosenborg dethroned
With UEFA Champions League contenders Rosenborg BK resigned to losing the title they have held for 13 years, Oslo giants Vålerenga face stiff competition for the crown from a Start side who only won promotion back to the élite last term. This has prompted a surge of interest in Norway's Tippeligaen.

Vålerenga ahead
Vålerenga hold a three-point lead with five games remaining, and coach Kjetil Rekdal could be inclined to look for a draw as his team take on Start at their home stadium in Kristiansand. After a busy week, he may not expect much more from his players.

Busy schedule
Rekdal was furious after what he considered a poor refereeing decision contributed to Wednesday's 2-0 defeat by Lillestrøm SK in the Norwegian Cup semi-finals, and he has long complained that a busy autumn schedule has put additional pressure on the UEFA Cup hopefuls.

Huge job
Nonetheless, Start coach Tom Nordlie is under no illusions about the task facing his side. "We need to win this match to have a chance of winning the title," he said. "If we take three points, the title race will be wide open again." Victory might seem a tall order for Start after they lost 1-0 at SK Brann on Monday - a scoreline which flattered Nordlie's team. The trainer said: "I can take comfort from the fact my Start team will never play as badly as they did against Brann."

Solér flair
That Start, whose last title came in 1978, are contenders at all is partly down to the work of chairman Erik Solér. The former Norwegian international rescued the club from the verge of extinction in 2002, and having invested shrewdly, has high hopes for the future.

Magnificent dream
"I knew we had a good side when we went up last year, and I also thought we spent wisely during the winter," he said. "But the boys have exceeded our highest expectations. Years ago we talked about Start playing in the 2007/08 Champions League. Everyone laughed, but now we can do it a year early!"