TIVOLI Gardens FC and visitors Humble Lion FC will meet at the Edward Seaga Sports Complex in West Kingston in arguably the pick of the Red Stripe Premier League (RSPL) clashes today.

Some serious fireworks could be on the cards in the 3:00 pm kick-off, given the talent embedded in both squads, but a quick look at their respective results throughout this campaign makes it difficult to pick a victor.

Tivoli Gardens, the former league winners, have suffered from dodgy form and lie in seventh place in the 12-team standing on 24 points from their 19 matches.

They have lost seven games already to go with their six victories — a disappointing statistic for a club that was most recently the national champions in 2008-09 and 2010-11.

A 1-0 defeat of stuttering former champions Portmore United FC in last weekend’s round of games would have lifted Tivoli, but the Glendon ‘Admiral’ Bailey-coached team knows they need to string together several more positive results if they are to make it into one of the top-four spots.

The fifth-placed Humble Lion, guided by head coach Geoffrey Maxwell, are one point ahead of Tivoli, but the Clarendon-based team has played a game more.

Humble Lion, the RSPL leaders early in the season, have also been inconsistent, winning six and drawing seven times in their 20 outings.

There was plenty of optimism after their 1-0 victory over leaders and defending champions Harbour View FC a week ago.

But Lion’s goalless draw against Portmore in the lone rescheduled fixture in midweek — brought forward to facilitate the latter’s involvement in an invitational competition in the United States over a week from now — subdued talk in some quarters of a resurgence.

In another clash between teams jockeying to pull closer to the top quartet, 11th-placed Boys’ Town FC (21 points) welcome sixth-placed Cavalier SC (25 points) to Collie Smith Drive in a 3:00 pm kick-off.

Also at 3:00 pm, Sporting Central Academy, who are in eighth place on 23 points, entertain fourth-placed Arnett Gardens FC (30) at the Juici Patties Park in Clarendon.

Fans at the University of the West Indies, Mona Bowl, will be treated to a clash between title contenders and cellar dwellers when second-placed Montego Bay United (32 points) travel to face struggling August Town FC (19) in 3:00 pm start.

In today’s late game, Portmore United, planted in 10th place on 22 points, host St Catherine neighbours Rivoli United (23) at the Ferdie Neita Park. Rivoli are ninth in the RSPL table.

In tomorrow’s highly-anticipated televised game, Harbour View (37 points), whose 11 victories have propelled them into a comfortable position at the summit, host third-placed Waterhouse FC (31) at the Harbour View Stadium, commencing at 8:30 pm.

The top four teams at the end of the preliminary phase will progress to the semi-finals.

RSPL matches today

3:00 pm – August Town vs Montego Bay United @ UWI Bowl

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

3:00 pm – Tivoli Gardens vs Humble Lion @ Edward Seaga Complex

3:00 pm – Sporting Central vs Arnett Gardens @ Juici Patties Park

7:00 pm – Portmore United vs Rivoli United @ Ferdie Neita Park

RSPL match tomorrow

8:30 pm – Harbour View vs Waterhouse @ Harbour View Stadium