CHAMPIONS Tivoli Gardens and leaders Waterhouse FC are set to highlight today’s National Premier League (NPL) schedule with a top-of-the-table clash at the Edward Seaga Stadium at 5:00 pm.

In other games: Arnett Gardens host Boys’ Town; Portmore travel to Reno; Montego Bay United welcome Harbour View; Humble Lions tackle Sporting Central and Highgate tackle Village.

Waterhouse, on the back of three consecutive wins, lead with maximum nine points, while Tivoli are two points adrift and looking to go top.

Under new coach Donovan Duckie, Waterhouse have brushed aside the promoted Highgate and Montego Bay United as well as Reno, but will face their first real test in Tivoli.

How they respond is left to be seen, but they will have to be at their best to repel the challenges of the champions.

The Glendon Bailey-coached Tivoli saw off MoBay and arch-rivals Arnett, 2-1, but were held by last season’s runners-up Boys’ Town in a pulsating 2-2 draw.

Playing at home, Tivoli must be fancied to defeat the leaders, but Waterhouse are formidable opponents and will be hard to beat, even playing away.

Last season, Waterhouse won their first meeting, 1-0, drew the second, 1-1, but lost the last two matches to Tivoli Gardens. In the pre-season Claro/KSAFA Champions Cup, Jermaine Anderson netted twice as Waterhouse clipped their rivals, 2-1.

The hard-running and powerful Anderson will again be the man to watch, along with Peter Keyes, Vincent Earle, the wily Damion ‘Kappo’ Williams, Hugh Howell and Akeem Thenstead.

Tivoli themselves are not short on firepower and new signing Mitchily Waul has settled in and is making a tremendous impact. Alongside Navion Boyd, Marcelino Blackburn, Jameel Thompson, Kemar Flemmings, Dane Kelly and Kasai Hinds, TG could have a winning combination.

With Anderson in fine form, Waterhouse must, however, be given the edge to maintain their lead.

Meanwhile Boys’ Town, who lost points in the boardroom for the use of the ineligible Marvin Morgan, cannot expect any favours from neighbours Arnett Gardens who are on a two-game losing streak.

Boys’ Town, having consented to an International Clearance by the Jamaica Football federation (JFF) to enable Morgan to play in the United States, failed to obtain a similar clearance from the United States Soccer Federation and the talented youngster will not be eligible for Boys’ Town until January.

Both teams are struggling, with Arnett in ninth spot on three points, and Boys’ Town 11th with a point.

Despite their lowly status, however, both are playing attractive football and the large expected crowd at the Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex should be treated to exciting football.

Third-placed Portmore United, on seven points, will be hunting three away points at Reno and are favoured to do so. The Calvin Lewis-conditioned Portmore are a young and fast-paced aggregation and Alanzo Adlam, Andrew Vanzie, Ewan Grandison, Tremaine Stewart, Adrian Reid and Rickhardo and Rosario Harriott will have to be contained.

Reno, after shocking Boys’ Town on opening day, have subsequently lost to Waterhouse and Harbour View and are eager to return to winning ways, especially at home.

Clarendon will be buzzing with excitement with the local derby between Humble Lion and Sporting Central at Effortville.

Both are coming off wins last weekend and are on six points in fourth and fifth positions, respectively. Humble Lion saw off Village United, 2-1, while Sporting whipped Arnett Gardens, 3-1.

Humble Lion are more aggressive and playing at home, will be motivated to secure three points over the slick-moving Sporting Central and climb into the top three or four.

Former champions Harbour View, in sixth spot on four points, tackle seventh-placed Montego Bay, on three points, at Catherine Hall in an interesting match-up.

The promoted Montego Bay got their first win via the boardroom from Boys’ Town, and although that is not how they would have wanted it, the St James outfit is nevertheless grateful.

The Hugh Solomon-coach outfit could upset the applecart and secure their first win on the field of play and boost their confidence for the rest of the season.

Another promoted team, Highgate, could record their first win and Village United could be the team to oblige the St Mary outfit at Lynch Park.

Highgate, with a little more luck, could have goten off the mark last week against Portmore, but the pointless Village are the ideal opponents against which to open their account.

Today’s games

NEWSTALK 93FM RADIO GAME

3:30pm Humble Lion FC vs Sporting @ Effortville

3:30pm Highgate vs Village @ Lynch Park

3:30pm Reno vs Portmore @ Frome

CVM TV GAME/ KLAS SPORT FM 89 RADIO GAME

3:30pm Arnett vs Boys Town @ Spaulding Complex

5:00pm Montego Bay vs Harbour View @ Catherine Hall

5:00pm Tivoli vs Waterhouse @ Seaga Complex