AS the preliminary stage of the Red Stripe Premier League (RSPL) winds down, teams continue to jostle for favourable positions at both ends of the table.

At the top, Portmore United, Montego Bay United and Arnett Gardens FC are already through to the semi-finals. But all three are shooting for the number-one spot in the league. A few others are fighting for the fourth and final semi-final spot.

Down the standing, Waterhouse FC and Rivoli United are at the root of the relegation battle. A number of other teams could also fall into those dreaded positions if they slip up over the next three match days.

To help maintain the integrity of the league, all games are scheduled to start 3:30 pm.

One of the highlights of today’s matches will be the clash between reigning champions Arnett Gardens and last season’s losing finalists Montego Bay at Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex.

South St Andrew-based Arnett Gardens are third in the league standing with 54 points from 30 matches, while visitors Montego Bay United are second on 56.

Jerome Waite, the head coach of Arnett Gardens, is predicting fireworks in the contest between the RSPL’s two highest scoring teams.

“Once you’re playing MoBay it will be an exciting game… it’s always a tough physical game and an excellent tactical game. It’s about two good attacking teams,” he said during Thursday’s press conference hosted at Red Stripe’s headquarters on Spanish Town Road.

Lincoln Whyte, a board director of the St James-situated club, said his team is always motivated to play against their major rivals.

“We learn from our mistakes and we respect Arnett because of the potency they have… [but] the players are also motivated to play against Arnett,” said Whyte.

At Juici Park in Clarendon, the hosts Portmore United take on strugglers Waterhouse FC.

Portmore are the leaders with 57 points, while former champions Waterhouse are last in the 12-team standing with 28.

With only three games remaining Waterhouse are likely to need maximum points to even have a chance of avoiding relegation.

Their Head Coach Anthony Patrick is in his second stint in charge this season as the club hierarchy grapple desperately to find the apparently elusive road to success.

He said his beleaguered team is up for the challenge.

“It’s going to be a tough one, but I think we are up for the challenge and hopefully we can get the better of them. We have to be disciplined and we have to be aware throughout the 90 minutes,” Patrick said.

Clive Marshall, the Portmore team manager, said his side, which returned to the nation’s top flight this season after being demoted, is “gelling at the right time”.

He said they will target the Waterhouse encounter like any other fixture.

“The major objective is to go all the way. With just three [match days] to go, every single one of the teams has objectives and we therefore expect these games to be very challenging,” Marshall told the

Jamaica Observer.

At the Spanish Town Prison Oval, the hosts Rivoli United and Tivoli Gardens FC will lock horns.

Tivoli, in eighth place with 34 points, still have an outside chance of making the semi-finals.

Tivoli’s midfielder Rohan Reid said he and his teammates are eyeing the semi-final opportunity.

“Nine points are what we are aiming for, we have to be upbeat, play hard and play smart and work as hard as possible because it’s a slim chance to snatch that fourth place,” he said.

Rivoli United, in one of two relegation places in 11th on 30 points, are battling to avoid the drop.

Bradley Stewart, the technical director at Rivoli, is aware of the struggle ahead of him.

“It’s not a pretty picture to be in 11th spot, given the kind of exposure and experience that Rivoli have. We have to go into every game like a final, and Tivoli are no different. We are in a very precarious position,” Stewart said.

In other games, sixth-placed Harbour View FC (39 points) welcome 10th-placed FC Reno (33 points) to Harbour View Mini-Stadium, while fourth-placed University of the West Indies (42 points) entertain ninth-placed Cavalier SC (33 points) at Mona Bowl.

At Barbican Sports Complex, the home team Boys’ Town FC take on Humble Lion FC. Boys’ Town are seventh with 38 points, while Humble Lion are fifth with 41.

Today’s games (all start 3:30 pm)

Arnett Gardens vs Montego Bay @ Anthony Spaulding Complex

Boys’ Town vs Humble Lion @ Barbican Complex

Harbour View vs Reno @ Harbour View Stadium

Portmore vs Waterhouse @ Juici Park

Rivoli vs Tivoli Gardens @ Prison Oval

University of the West Indies vs Cavalier @ Mona Bowl