The battle between the two promoted teams Portmore United and the University of West Indies (UWI) — sitting at opposite ends of the standings — will be the highlight of today’s round of five Red Stripe Premier League games.

Both teams, having navigated their way successfully through the play-offs earlier this year and are familiar foes, will today clash once again at the UWI Bowl. Match time is 3:30 pm.

In other games, champions Arnett Gardens travel to Effortville for a 3:30 pm date with Humble Lion; Cavalier host Rivoli United at the Stadium East field at 4:00 pm; FC Reno welcome Tivoli Gardens to Frome for a 3:30 pm encounter and Boys’ Town take on Montego Bay United at Barbican field at 3:30 pm.

On Monday, Harbour View host Waterhouseat Compound in the clash of the former champions, both seeking their first win of the season.

Portmore, coached by Jeffrey Hewitt, lead the Red Stripe Premier League table with maximum nine points, while UWI are pointless after three games, but today’s emcounter will be much closer than the table suggests.

Portmore United, after being relegated in 2013, have returned to the topflight with a vengeance, dispatching Montego Bay United (2-0), Rivoli United (1-0) and Waterhouse (2-1). They have also been lifted by the return of former national midfielder, Omar Daley.

The UWI, guided by Marcel Gayle, have started badly losing all three games by crashing 0-3 to Arnett Gardens and Montego Bay United before losing 0-1 to Rivoli United. But they have played better than the results show.

In the Premier League play-offs both games between Portmore and UWI ended in draws and another close encounter could be in store today.

Meanwhile, the Jerome Waite-conditioned Arnett Gardens, currently in third spot on six points, play away to fifth-placed Humble Lion on four points and have their tails in the air following their 4-0 demolition of Boys’ Town.

Humble Lion, coached by Linval Wilson, and who played with 10 men for an entire half in their 1-0 win over Tivoli Gardens, will also be boosted by that performance and could make it a difficult evening for the champions.

Second-placed Reno, on seven points and fresh from their 2-0 win over Waterhouse on Thursday, will host ninth-placed Tivoli Gardens (two points) in what is expected to be a keen battle which could go either way.

Former champions Montego Bay United, in seventh spot on three points, tackle a Boys’ Town team in 10th spot on two points at Barbican Field.

Fourth-placed Cavalier, on four points, host sixth-placed Rivoli United, also on four point, at Stadium East field, and are fancied to secure another victory. They have been playing some wonderful football as evidenced by their dominant performance in their 1-0 win over Arnett.

Today’s games

3:30 pm — UWI vs Portmore Utd @ Mona Bowl; Arnett vs Humble Lion at Effortville; FC Reno vs Tivoli @ Frome; Boys’ Town vs MBU at Barbican Field.

4:00 pm — Cavalier vs Rivoli Utd at Stadium East.

Monday’s game

8:45 pm– Harbour View vs Waterhouse at Harbour View Mini-stadium.

RSPL points standing

Teams P W D L GF GA GD PTS

Portmore United 3 3 0 0 5 1 4 9

FC Reno 3 2 1 0 4 1 3 7

Arnett Gardens 3 2 0 1 7 1 6 6

Cavalier 2 1 1 0 1 0 1 4

Humble Lion 3 1 1 1 2 2 0 4

Rivoli United 3 1 1 1 1 1 0 4

Montego Bay 2 1 0 1 3 2 1 3

Harbour View 3 0 3 0 3 3 0 3

Tivoli Gardens 3 0 2 1 1 2 -1 2

Boys’ Town 3 0 2 1 2 6 -4 2

Waterhouse 3 0 1 2 1 4 -3 1

UWI 3 0 0 3 0 7 -7 0