THE Digicel Premier League (DPL) will conclude today with Sporting Central Academy and Rivoli United fighting for survival while champions elect Harbour View will finally lay their hands on the prestigious trophy.

With August Town securing one of the two relegation spots, either 11th-placed Sporting (40) and 10th-placed Rivoli (42) will join them in Super League football next season.

Mathematically, both eighth-placed Humble Lions (42) and ninth-placed Arnett Gardens (42) could be relegated, but only if Sporting win and they suffer a bad loss.

As it stands, Humble Lions have a goal difference of (-4) compared to Arnett’ (-6) and Rivoli’s (-8). Therefore, if Rivoli lose by a one-goal margin to Sporting, Arnett would have to lose by four goals or Humble Lions by six goals for Rivoli to stay up.

So in essence, the dogfight is really between Rivoli and Sporting, with the Clarendon in a must-win situation at Brancourt.

The Clarendon-based Sporting must be bubbling with confidence as they are unbeaten against Rivoli this season, winning two of their three meetings, the last of which ended 4-0.

The competition’s leading marksman Devon Hodges with 17 goals will have to be at his best and if Rivoli are relegated it could be his last game for that club as he would want to keep playing top-flight football.

Sporting, with a core of the National Under-20 players, likewise cannot afford to be relegated as they too would lose some important players and would take some time to rebuild.

But playing at home, Sporting should start favourites to get the better of Rivoli in their do-or-die clash.

Meanwhile, new champions Harbour View (74) will finally get to celebrate with the DPL Trophy when they travel to second-placed Tivoli Gardens (66).

This fixture should have been the grand finale in deciding the title, but Tivoli faltered badly, losing their last three games on the trot and handed the trophy to Harbour View.

No team likes when another celebrates on its home turf, so Tivoli are expected to turn in a much-improved performance and make it as difficult as possible for the ‘Stars of the East’.

Portmore (46), the winners of the bottom six, should be engaged in another intriguing encounter with promoted Humble Lions (42), who held their own throughout the season.

Former champions Arnett Gardens (42), after flirting with relegation throughout the season, should secure another win against the demoted August Town (36).

The Boys’ Town-Village United encounter should be another interesting affair as both teams hunt a top-four spot ahead of St Georges.

Today’s games

3:30 pm Tivoli Gardens vs Harbour View @ Seaga Complex (Televised game)

3:30 pm Boys Town FC vs Village United FC @ Boys Town

3:30 pm Portmore vs Humble Lion @ Ferdie Neita

3:30 pm Sporting vs Rivoli @ Brancourt (KLAS radio game)

3:30 pm August Town vs Arnett @ UWI Bowl

DPL table as at May 9, 2010