DIGICEL Premier League (DPL) leaders Harbour View and Tivoli Gardens face difficult away games against Humble Lions and St Georges, respectively, to kick off the New Year.

In the other games: Waterhouse host Sporting Central Academy; Village United travel to Arnett Gardens; Portmore welcome Rivoli United and August Town tackle Boys’ Town.

Harbour View, who start the day out front on 39 points, have the best away record of eight wins compared to three wins at home.

Obviously, the Stars of the East play better on the road and to make things even better, they play a team with a poor home record.

In nine games at Effortville in Clarendon, the promoted Humble Lions have won just once while securing three away wins to prove they too are a better road team.

Bearing that in mind, Harbour View should start favourites for yet another win, but it won’t be easy against a hard-running Humble Lions team.

Humble Lions, who have won two of their last three games, have moved three points clear of the relegation zone and into 10th place on 18 points.

Coach Christopher Bender has this team well focused and they will make it a difficult visit for Harbour View and could even snatch a win.

Champions and second-placed Tivoli Gardens with 35 points will tackle a dangerous St Georges team which has faded into fifth on 31 points.

Both teams contested the first End-of-Round final on November 8, which Tivoli won 2-0, and since then, St Georges have won just once in their last eight games and have slipped from the top to fifth.

The Portland-based team had a dismal second round in which they garnered just seven points, but the New Year might just herald something special for them to turn around that wretched form.

But in Tivoli Gardens, it won’t be easy, and the champions are expected to put in another workman-like performance to secure a positive result.

In-form Waterhouse should continue their trek to the top with a win over another improving team, Sporting Central Academy.

Waterhouse, who have won 10 of their last 14 games, have recovered very well after losing their first five games to be in fourth spot on 33 points.

The Geoffrey Maxwell-coach outfit are only six points adrift of the leaders and just two behind second-placed Tivoli on 35.

It will take a mammoth effort from sixth-placed Sporting (24) to cool Waterhouse at Drewsland, especially with veteran striker Kevin Lamey in imperious form.

Although it is a team effort, Lamey is the main man behind Waterhouse’s resurgence, scoring in four goals in their last five games to take his tally to nine. He is now second in the Golden Boots race behind Devon Hodges’ 13.

Third-placed Boys’ Town (33) should prove too strong for cellar team August Town (15) once again.

The troubled Arnett Gardens, down to ninth place on 19 points, should score their first win in eight games against lowly Village United (15) in the battle of two struggling teams.

Arnett are just four above Village United and the relegation zone and following the club’s shake up, should start the year on a winning note.

It should be a new year, new beginning for former champions Portmore United when they host Rivoli United.

Today’s games

3:00 pm St Georges vs Tivoli Gardens @ Lynch Park

3:00 pm Humble Lions vs Harbour View @ Effortville Community Centre

3:00 pm August Town vs Boys’ Town @ UWI Bowl

6:00 pm Arnett Gardens vs Village United @ Anthony Spaulding Sporting Complex

6:00 pm Waterhouse vs Sporting Central Academy @ Drewsland

7:30 pm Portmore United vs Rivoli United @ Ferdie Neita Park