BARRING a minor miracle, former national club champions Portmore United will be banished to lower division football after today’s final round of preliminary matches in the Red Stripe Premier League (RSPL).

Cellar team August Town FC have already been consigned to one of the two relegation spots.

Portmore United, who are 11th in the 12-team standings, need to beat hosts Humble Lion FC in their clash at the Effortville Community Centre and hope that 10-placed Boys’ Town FC — the other team facing the chop — are beaten by semi-finalists and Trench Town neighbours Arnett Gardens FC.

Portmore, the Premier League winners in the 2011-12 season, have been abysmal this campaign, gathering a paltry 33 points from 32 matches. Though one of the better-funded football clubs on the local scene, Portmore’s form has seen them losing five of their last seven outings, including a 0-2 defeat to preliminary stage champions Waterhouse FC (62 points) in the recent midweek fixture.

Humble Lion, who once held hope of reaching the semi-finals, are not in danger, resting in ninth place on 38 points.

Boys’ Town, who have been credible title contenders in recent years, have hardly done better than Portmore this season, mustering a mere 35 points. But they have destiny in their hands when they travel up Collie Smith Drive to the Anthony Spaulding Complex to meet the third-placed Arnett Gardens (52 points) team that is already through to the last four.

On the other hand, Arnett, along with the other semi-finalists Montego Bay United (fourth on 52 points) and Harbour View (second on 53), may want to avoid finishing fourth and be forced to face a rampant Waterhouse outfit.

August Town (27 points), showing the frailties of a hopeless side during a 0-6 drubbing at the hands of Arnett Gardens last time out, host Harbour View at the University of the West Indies Mona Bowl.

At Stadium East, Montego Bay United, who trail Arnett Gardens only on goal difference, battle seventh-placed hosts Cavalier SC.

In games of little consequence, Waterhouse welcome eighth-placed Sporting Central Academy (38 points) to the Drewsland Mini-Stadium and fifth-placed Rivoli United (44) entertain Tivoli Gardens FC (42) at the Bramwell Clarke Sports Complex.

Rivoli’s move away from their usual base at the Spanish Town Prison Oval is part of a strategy employed by some clubs to spread top-flight action across the island and to maximise gate receipts.

All games today are slated to begin at 3:30 pm to uphold the integrity of the league.

Today’s games

(3:30 pm kick-off for all)

Arnett Gardens vs Boys’ Town @ Anthony Spaulding Complex

Humble Lion vs Portmore United @ Effortville Community Centre

August Town vs Harbour View @ UWI Bowl

Rivoli United vs Tivoli Gardens @ Bramwell Clarke Complex

Waterhouse vs Sporting Central @ Drewsland Stadium

Cavalier vs Montego Bay @ Stadium East