DEFENDING champions Tivoli Gardens and Boys' Town clash in a marquee Red Stripe Premier League encounter between two teams eager to close the gap on the leaders at the Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex this afternoon.

In the other games: Portmore United host Highgate United; Harbour View entertain Reno; Humble Lion take on Village United and Arnett Gardens tackle Sporting Central.

Second-placed Waterhouse on 42 points will host sixth-placed Montego Bay United with 33 points in the late Monday night game at Drewsland slated for 9:00 pm.

In the feature match, third-placed Tivoli Gardens, on 39 points, and Boys' Town on 36 and in fourth, will be aiming to close the gap of the leaders in what is shaping up to be an intriguing season.

The champions, who defeated Arnett Gardens, 2-1, last Thursday, will again be in action with only two days' rest and will have to prove they have the legs to defeated the hard-running Boys' Town.

Tivoli should welcome back the suspended trio of left-back Christopher Jackson, central midfielder Raymond Williamson and centre half Ranike Anderson. But crucially, they will miss the silky playmaking skills of Mario Swaby and the hard-tackling Damion Gordon -- out on cards.

In nine-goal striker Romeo Parkes, Tivoli have found the right goal-poacher and along with Navion Boyd, Mitchily Waul, Shawn McKoy and Dane Kelly, should be hard to beat.

Boys' Town, who have lost just twice at home, have been finding scoring a bit difficult all season and will have to step up to get the better of the champs.

In two encounters this season, the Red Brigade have yet to beat Tivoli, drawing 2-2 at Collie Smith Drive before losing 3-1 at the Seaga Stadium.

The Andrew Price-coached Boys' Town, buoyed by their Jackie Bell win over Harbour View and a 0-0 draw away to Montego Bay, should feel confident of defeating their rivals and seriously joining the title race.

Captain Michael Campbell, Renae Lloyd, Oneil Thompson, Jermaine Allen, Wayne Ellis, Daemion Benjamin and Shane Edwards should provide the firepower for Boys' Town.

Meanwhile, leaders Portmore United, on 45 points, entertain a 10th-placed Highgate team on 24 and coming off an impressive 3-0 demolition of Harbour View last Wednesday.

Both teams have met twice this season and in both instances, the games were close. The first encounter at Ferdie Neita Park ended 0-0 while Portmore won the second, 1-0, at Lynch Park.

Former champions Harbour View, down in seventh on 33, must beat 11th-placed Reno, on 21, if they are still harbouring thought of winning the league.

The 'Stars of the East' are 12 points adrift of the leaders and cannot afford to any further slips with 14 games remaining.

Cellar team Village United, on 19 points, will be hoping to add fifth-placed Humble Lion, on 35, to the list of teams they have shocked this season.

Last Wednesday, Village clipped Sporting Central, 1-0, and would want to repeat their 3-2 win over Humble Lion on December 4 to continue their fine form against Clarendon teams.

The clash between eight-placed Arnett Gardens, on 30 points, and ninth-placed Sporting, three points below, could go either way.

Both are two of the most inconsistent teams and on any given day can play wonderful football, setting the stage of an interesting match-up.

Sporting have defeated Arnett Gardens twice this season, 3-1 and 1-0, and will be looking for the hat-trick of wins over their famed rivals.

Today's games

3:00 pm Sporting vs Arnett Gardens @ Brancourt

3:00 pm Village vs Humble Lion @ Elliston Wakeland

KLASS FM Radio game

6:30 pm Harbour View vs Reno @ Harbour View

7:00 pm Boys' Town vs Tivoli @ Spaulding Complex

7:00 pm Portmore vs Highgate @ Ferdie Neita

Todays predictions:

Boys' Town/Tivoli Gardens - draw

Portmore United vs Highgate United - Highgate win

Harbour View vs Reno - Harbour View win

Village United vs Humble Lion - draw

Sporting Central Acdemy vs Arnett Gardens - Arnett win

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