The third and defining round of the Red Stripe Premier League season kicks off today with five intriguing matches, as teams jostle for crucial positions in a push for the fourth round.

At the end of the third round, the men will be separated from the boys with the top six teams placed in one group, who will play among themselves for the title.

In reverse, the bottom six teams grouped in one zone and likewise, will play among themselves in what could be a relegation dog-fight.

With that in mind, this third round is very crucial and the jockeying for positions starts immediately with leaders Harbour View, on 45 points and with an eight-point lead, hosting fourth-placed Montego Bay United, on 34 points, in the feature encounter.

Harbour View, with the acquisition of national player Xavean Virgo from Boys’ Town, and the promising Brian Brown from today’s rival Montego Bay United, should start favourites, especially coming off their second end-of-round final victory over Cavalier.

Playmaker Jermaine Hue again will lead from in front, and along with Evan Taylor, Joel Senior, Richard Edwards, John Ross Edwards, Christopher Harvey and Montrose Phinn, should be hard to deny.

Montego Bay United also have some talented players in their ranks in Leslie St Fleur, Omar Gordon, Leon Irving, Fabian McCarthy, Allan Ottey, and Kemiro James, and will make it a difficult day for Harbour View.

Champions and second-placed Portmore United, on 37 points, host a Savannah FC outfit at the bottom on 15 points and should feel confident of securing yet another win over the struggling outfit from Westmoreland.

With that in mind, Portmore United cannot take a hungry Savannah team, in search of crucial points and hell bent on avoiding the drop in their first season in top-flight football.

The Clarendon derby between eighth-placed Sporting Central Academy, on 28 points, and Humble Lion, two points below on 26 points, should be an interesting affair, as they fight for bragging rights, but more importantly, crucial points.

Sporting Central won the first encounter 2-1, while the second drew 0-0 and in this third meeting, Humble Lion will be looking to even the score.

Meanwhile, it will be touch and go for Waterhouse, as they start a new phase under a different coach, Anthony Patrick, after Donovan Duckie was relieved of his head coaching position earlier this week.

Waterhouse are in seventh spot on 32 points and it is left to be seen how the players will respond against a Highgate United team down in 11th spot on 20 points.

Fifth-placed Boys’ Town, on 34 points, take on Cavalier, also on 34 points, in a crucial match as they bid for a top six spot.

Cavalier seem to be a team on the improve and with a few key acquisitions will give Boys’ Town, who lost some key players, a run for their money.

On Monday, third-placed Arnett Gardens, on 35 points, travel to their fiercest rivals Tivoli Gardens, struggling in ninth spot with 27 points, but will be buoyed by a recent victory of Arnett Gardens in the KSAFA Jackie Bell Knockout competition.

Today’s games

3:00 pm Boys’ Town vs Cavalier @Collie Smith Drive

3:00 pm Highgate United vs Waterhouse @Drax Hall

3:00 pm Humble Lion vs Sporting Central Academy @Effortville Community Centre

6:30 pm Harbour View vs Montego Bay United @ Harbour View Mini-Stadium

7:00 pm Portmore United vs Savannah FC @ Ferdie Neita Park

CVM TV Monday Night Game

Tivoli Gardens vs Arnett Gardens @ Edward Seaga Stadium

* Teams receive three points for a win and one point for a draw.

* The bottom two teams will be automatically relegated