DEFENDING champions Montego Bay United will travel to the Drewsland Mini-Stadium to face Waterhouse FC for their first-leg Red Stripe Premier League semi-final scheduled for 8:30 pm today.

Waterhouse finished the preliminary round in second spot on 60 points, while Montego Bay United were third with 53 points, setting the stage for an enticing battle between last year’s finalists.

Both teams have met three times in the premier league, with Waterhouse winning the first encounter 3-0 on September 18 before Montego Bay United returned the favour 1-0 on October 12. The third clash ended in a 0-0 stalemate on March 25.

Last year, Montego Bay United whipped Waterhouse 5-1 to lift the title and they are confident they can repeat, while Waterhouse will have revenge on their minds as they both seek the early advantage.

Montego Bay United will be relying on the likes of top scorer Dino Williams (nine goals), Allan Ottey (eight goals), Lesly St Fleur (six goals), Fabian McCarthy, Ladale Richie, Omar Gordon, Greame Green, Ronaldo Rodney, Cordell Simpson and Kashief Brown to hunt that victory for the St James outfit.

Recently, their club President Orville Powell was quoted as saying they want to wrap up the two-legged tie from the first leg, despite playing away.

Waterhouse, on the other hand, are a dangerous team, especially with the veteran Jermaine ‘Tuffy’ Anderson in their ranks. He has notched 18 goals this season and will have to be contained if Montego Bay United really want to win.

But Waterhouse are far from being a one-man team, and the likes of Hughan Gray, Tremaine Stewart, Romario Campbell, Nicholy Findlayson, Evan Taylor and Damarley Samuels are all match winners on their day.