DIGICEL Premier League (DPL) protagonists Tivoli Gardens and Waterhouse clash in a mammoth encounter in which the winners might not win the league, but could go a far way in deciding the title at the Edward Seaga Stadium today at 5:00 pm.

Tivoli Gardens, who lead with 36 points, are just two ahead of second-placed Waterhouse and will be aiming to maintain or increase that advantage.

In two outings to date, both teams share a win, with Waterhouse taking the first match 1-0 at Drewsland before Tivoli returned with an impressive 5-1 win in the first End-Of-Round final at the National Stadium.

Both teams had contrasting results last Sunday, with Tivoli Gardens losing 0-2 to Portmore United and Waterhouse defeating Humble Lion 1-0.

The much-vaunted Tivoli attack will be at full force with the return of Navion Boyd to partner the ever-dangerous Devon Hodges, Keammar Daley, Roland Dean or Kwame Richardson.

Waterhouse also have their feared strike force intact, with the evergreen Kevin Lamey back in the fold, alongside Akeem Thenstead, captain Kenardo Forbes, goalscoring midfielder Vincent Earle. They should prove hard to contain.

The surging Portmore United, up to third spot on 33 points, are sitting in the catbird’s seat and any slip-up by the top two could work to their advantage.

But they face a dangerous foe in a Sporting Central Academy team which has climbed to fifth spot on 27 points.

Both teams are the best movers in the second round, with Portmore United garnering 16 points from seven games and Sporting Central 14, setting the stage for an intriguing match-up of two in-form teams.

Sporting Central have the leading goalscorer in Francois Swaby with nine goals and should get support from former national Under-20 player Levaughn Williams, the bustling Gary McIntosh, Oneke Ford, Kaydian Wynter and Hughan Gray.

Portmore’s Steven Morrissey, Mario Swaby, Eric Vernan, Adrian Reid, Ricardo Cousins, Tremaine Stewart and Rafe Wolfe will have to be contained, especially playing at home.

Fourth-placed Boys’ Town, on 28 points, and sixth-placed Harbour View, on 27, should provide another spectacle in the feature match of a double-header at the Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex.

This rivalry in the Premier League is unparalleled, and with champions Harbour View mauling Boys’ Town 5-1 in their first encounter, the stage is set for another epic battle.

Boys’ Town will be missing their sturdy defender Asrick Samuels through an accumulation of yellow cards — the same for Harbour View’s midfield enforcer Richard Edwards.

Seventh-placed Benfica, on 24 points, will be looking to hold their position against seventh-placed Arnett Gardens, on 22, in the curtain-raiser at the Complex.

Both teams drew 1-1 in the first meeting and Benfica, the new boys from St Ann, have proved they can compete with the best in the league and should give another good account of themselves.

Ninth-placed Reno, with 21 points, and 10th-placed Village United, also on 21, clash in what is now the western Jamaica ‘derby’ at Jarrett Park. Both teams are evenly matched, but Reno must have the edge following their impressive 4-1 away win over Benfica.

Village also scored a crucial 1-0 away win over Harbour View and under new Brazilian coach Nedeir Dos Santos, have been improving and will be aiming for their third win from their last four matches.

Then there is the battle at Effortville Community Centre between cellar teams Humble Lion, on 13 points, and St George’s on 11. Both are struggling and a win will be crucial in their chase of the teams above them that are streaking away from the relegation zone.

Clarendon-based Humble Lion have not won in their last nine games and have fallen eight points adrift of the 10th-placed team, and coach Lenworth Hyde must be a worried man.

St George’s secured a rare victory with a 1-0 win over Arnett Gardens at Lynch Park recently and will be seeking their first away win, but will have to do so without striker Dever Orgill, who is out after picking up his third yellow card.

But just like the clash between the teams at the other end of the league, in Tivoli Gardens and Waterhouse, today’s encounter will be of paramount importance to both Humble Lion and St George’s.