Four teams are in real danger of relegation from the Red Stripe Premier League today while two teams battle for the last semi-final play-off spot as six intriguing games are on in the final set of preliminary matches. All games are scheduled for a 3:30 pm start.

Waterhouse FC, Cavalier SC, Rivoli United and FC Reno enter today’s games knowing that two of them will be relegated, while Humble Lion and the University of the West Indies (UWI) are the two fighting for the last play-off spot.

Waterhouse, twice winners of the league in 1998 and 2006, are at the bottom of the 12-team league on 31 points, two behind both Cavalier and Rivoli United with 33 points, with Reno on 34 points.

The odds certainly favour the Kingston and St Andrew Football Association teams Waterhouse and Cavalier, as both will be playing teams that have nothing to play for in Boys’ Town and Tivoli Gardens, respectively.

On the other hand, St Catherine’s Rivoli United and FC Reno of Westmoreland will be up against both Humble Lion (47 pts) and UWI (46 pts), battling for the final play-off spot with everything to play for, hence two tough games are in the making.

However, it’s another must-win game for the Drewsland-based Waterhouse as they host Boys’ Town in eighth spot on 38 points at Drewsland, knowing that not even a draw can save them from relegation. On Thursday, Waterhouse won a pressure cooker game against FC Reno and are asked to deliver once again.

Cavalier, who have lost four of their last five games and plummeted down the table into the relegation zone, travel to a less-than-motivated Tivoli Gardens outfit and should be able to secure three points. But it won’t be as easy as it seems and Cavalier must be at their best.

But despite all the permutations, both Waterhouse and Cavalier’s destinations are out of their hands and they will have to depend on other teams doing them favours.

If both Rivoli United and Reno win their games against Humble Lion and UWI, respectively, regardless of what both Waterhouse and Cavalier do, they will be relegated.

Rivoli United will travel to Effortville in a tough encounter against a very good Humble Lion unit that made the semi-final last year and looking to do the same this year. It will be a tall order for Rivoli United, especially playing away, and there should be uneasy feelings amongst the Spanish Town fans.

FC Reno, who know how to escape relegation, will have to do it once again at Frome against a fully motivated UWI team looking to secure a play-off spot in this their first year in top-flight football. It’s a tall ask of Reno, despite playing at home, as they have not defeated UWI this season, having drawn 2-2 and lost the other 1-3.

Meanwhile, what should have been a mouth-watering top-of-the-table clash for the $1 million prize money between Portmore United (61) and Arnett Gardens (57), has not materialised. On Thursday, Arnett Gardens crashed 0-3 to Harbour View, enabling Portmore United to secure the $1m for the team with the most points at the end of the preliminary round. But it will be an important game psychologically, as both teams could meet again in the final.

Former champions Montego Bay United, in third spot on 56 points, will be looking to end a three-game losing streak when they host sixth-placed Harbour View on 43 points at WesPow Park. It will be the final game before their semi-final clash with Arnett Gardens.