THE clash between leaders Arnett Gardens FC and title-holders Montego Bay United will take centrestage for this week’s matches in the Red Stripe Premier League (RSPL) football competition.

Kick-off is scheduled for 6:00 pm at the Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex in South St Andrew.

Arnett Gardens, returning to winning ways after a minor slump recently, have 51 points with 16 wins in 25 matches. A little over a month ago they were in the middle of a tremendous winning run until they gave up points in three consecutive matches, including back-to-back losses.

Since then Arnett Gardens have recorded two straight victories, capped off by a 3-0 win away to Barbican in their previous fixture, which served as leisure warm-up for the expected tougher battle against the champions today.

Montego Bay, lying in third place with 43 points, have failed to string together consecutive wins, though spending much of the season in the crucial top-four position.

Still, they have managed to get positive results against some of their main rivals, with the most recent one coming in a 2-1 win over Tivoli Gardens FC last time out.

A tight defence has meant Montego Bay have conceded only 18 goals this season, which is only bettered in the RSPL by Cavalier SC’s 17. However, the St James-based outfit will do well to keep out hosts Arnett, who are the joint top goalscoring team with 42.

At the Edward Seaga Sports Complex, two teams in a direct face-off for one of four semi-final places will feature, starting at 3:30 pm.

Hosts Tivoli Gardens FC and Humble Lion FC are both on 38 points, but the latter occupy the coveted fourth spot thanks to a superior goal difference. As their respective league standings suggest, it is difficult to call a winner from this clash, but with only eight match days left in the preliminary phase, both teams are expected to aim for maximum points.

Also at 3:30 pm, 10th-placed Sporting Central FC (27 points) welcome second-placed Waterhouse FC (44 points) to Juici Park in Clarendon.

In another encounter, struggling former national champions Reno FC, who are in 11th on 21 points, make the trek from Westmoreland to the Spanish Town Prison Oval to face seventh-placed Rivoli United (34 points), beginning at 4:00 pm.

Many eyes will turn to the Harbour View Mini-Stadium where hosts Harbour View, who have parted ways with head coach Andrew Hines and replaced him with interim caretaker Ludlow Bernard, look to re-ignite their push for a semi-final place when they go up against first-time RSPL entrants Barbican FC, starting at 6:30 pm.

Harbour View have lost their last three games and have failed to win in their previous six outings, but are sixth with 34 points and remain with a good chance of progressing.

Barbican, stumbling in the rough and tumble of top-flight football, are in last place with 21 points due to an inferior goal difference to Reno.

Aside from the eagerness to shake off the current poor run of form, there will be added incentive for Harbour View hosting Barbican since that team surprisingly eliminated them from the semi-finals of the Jackie Bell Knockout earlier this year.

In tomorrow’s RSPL Monday Night flagship event beginning at 8:30 pm, Cavalier SC welcome Kingston & St Andrew Football Association (KSAFA) rivals Boys’ Town FC to Stadium East.

Cavalier are eighth with 33 points, while Boys’ Town are a place below with 29 points.

RSPL games today

3:30 pm — Tivoli Gardens vs Humble Lion FC @ Edward Seaga Sports Complex

3:30 pm — Sporting Central vs Waterhouse FC @ Juici Park

4:00 pm — Rivoli vs Reno @ Prison Oval

6:00 pm — Arnett Gardens vs Montego Bay @ Anthony Spaulding Complex

6:30 pm — Harbour View vs Barbican @ Harbour View Stadium

RSPL game tomorrow

8:30 pm — Cavalier vs Boys’ Town @ Stadium East