Red Stripe Premier League (RSPL) leaders Montego Bay United will have the opportunity to stretch the lead on their closest rivals when they entertain struggling Humble Lion FC this afternoon at the WespoW Park in St James.

Kick-off is set for 3:30 pm.

Montego Bay, with a record of 12 victories, nine draws and three losses from their 24 matches, are on 45 points — three ahead of both the second-placed reigning champions Harbour View FC (42) and third-placed Waterhouse FC (42). Harbour View and Waterhouse are separated only by goal difference.

With Harbour View, Waterhouse and fourth-placed Arnett Gardens FC (35 points) all being inactive for this midweek round of matches, the Hugh Solomon-coached Montego Bay team, which beat Tivoli Gardens FC 1-0 in the previous round, could go even further ahead in the 12-team standings.

Ninth-placed Humble Lion (29 points), who recently parted ways with veteran coach Geoffrey Maxwell, have endured an inconsistent season and will be hard-pressed to get the better of their St James-based opponents.

While Montego Bay have scored 27 times and conceded only 10 goals — the lowest in the league, the Clarendon-located Humble Lion, who have won six and lost eight of their 25 matches, have netted 23 and given up 28. Humble Lion drew 2-2 with Rivoli United in their weekend clash.

In another 3:30 pm encounter, the sixth-placed Sporting Central Academy FC (31 points) welcome fifth-placed Tivoli Gardens FC (34 points) to the Juici Patties Park in Clarendon.

Sporting Central, who finished 0-0 with Boys’ Town FC in their last outing, can pull level on points with Tivoli and further intensify the race for a top-four finish at the end of the preliminary phase and a place in the semi-final.

On the other hand, Tivoli Gardens can bounce back from the weekend’s disappointment against Montego Bay with a win against Sporting, which would allow them to leapfrog Arnett Gardens and move into that pivotal fourth spot.

In a 5:00 pm clash, seventh-placed Cavalier SC (30 points) and former champions Portmore United, who are eighth on 29 points, will meet at the Stadium East play field. Portmore clipped cellar team August Town FC 1-0 in the last round, while Cavalier were blanked 0-3 by Harbour View.

An intense relegation battle looms at the Bramwell Clarke Sports Complex in Ewarton between designated hosts Rivoli United and Boys’ Town, starting at 4:00 pm. Both teams are on 27 points, but 10th-placed Boys’ Town, who have played a game less, have a better goal difference than their 11th-placed rivals. The teams are coming off respective draws on the weekend.

Rivoli’s shift to Ewarton is part of the thrust from some clubs to maximise on gate receipt, while also spreading top-flight football to fans in other towns and parishes.

The two teams with the lowest points total in the standings at the end of the season will be relegated.

Today’s matches

3:30 pm – Montego Bay vs Humble Lion @ WespoW Park

3:30 pm – Sporting Central vs Tivoli Gardens @ Juici Patties Park

4:00 pm – Rivoli United vs Boys’ Town @ Bramwell Clarke Sports Complex

5:00 pm – Cavalier vs Portmore United @ Stadium East