IF there’s ever a game that befits the phrase ‘six-pointer’, this is the one: Sporting Central Academy versus Reno FC, 10th versus 11th — direct rivals in what is shaping out to be a two-horse race in the Red Stripe Premier League relegation battle.

Kick-off is set for 3:30 pm at Juici Park.

With only five points separating the teams, and just three games left after Match Day 30, the result of this fixture will certainly have a huge say in where either side plays its football next season.

Home team Sporting Central, on 32 points, hold the advantage over Reno — who, along with bottom-paced Barbican, occupy the relegation places — and their coach Nigel Stewart believes survival should be a formality once they avoid defeat this evening.

“We are satisfied,” said Stewart, following his team’s 0-0 draw with Humble Lion last Monday, before adding: “As long as we don’t lose to Reno we should be in good stead to avoid relegation.”

Prior to last Sunday’s 2-1 loss to Harbour View at Frome, Reno coach Wendell Downswell had reportedly told the media that defeat would mean the end for the Westmoreland side. Yet with 12 points still to play for, the veteran coach and his charges will doubt travel to south-west Clarendon with survival on their minds.

A victory will move them within two points of safety with three games to go. But one thing is for sure: defeat to Sporting Central would leave Reno on the brink of demotion – eight points adrift of safety with only nine to play for.

Even with Craig Foster (the competition’s leading goalscorer with 19 goals) in their line-up, overhauling such a deficit would be virtually impossible for a side that has so far won only seven and tied six of their 29 games, scoring 36 goals while conceding 48.

— Oshane Tobias