FOR those fans who relish the glamour showdowns in the Red Stripe Premier League (RSPL), today’s round of matches may be a gross disappointment.

But that is not to suggest that the fixtures set to take centre stage are not significant for the teams involved on a downsized schedule.

In the battle for the semi-final round, none of those teams occupying the top-four positions will be in action, but two teams with soaring ambition and unbridled desire to clinch one of those spots will seek to advance that cause when they take the field.

Surprise package UWI FC, who are hanging just outside the semi-final frame with 38 points in fifth position, will visit the Spanish Town Prison Oval for a showdown with host Rivoli United, who remain nailed in the relegation zone.

That game kicks off at 3:30 pm.

The St Catherine-based team is 11th on the 12-team standing with 24 points and will enter today’s match-up against the resolute newcomer UWI hungry for the life-saving three points.

Rivoli, no doubt, will find token motivation in their first-round 1-0 win over UWI and their marginal 2-3 loss to them in round two. But they will be dragged back to reality fully informed that the juvenile UWI they met back then have since matured into an awesome foe, even for the league’s traditional top guns.

Still, their coach, Bradley Stewart, is undaunted but fully aware that his boys will have to come with their ‘A’ game. Hopefully, that will be enough.

“We are going there for the important three points and it will also be hard work… we will prepare the players as best as possible for the match,” Stewart said at the weekly RSPL press conference on Thursday.

On the back of a four-game winning roll which has propelled UWI within two points of Humble Lion in fourth spot, the dangerous team from Mona is confident of leapfrogging into the elite top four.

“Our chances are pretty good going into the final round of matches to be played and we should be in the top four when the preliminary rounds have been completed,” said UWI player Roshane Smith.

“We have the ability and capability to get into the top four, but it will be hard work and consistency for the remainder of our matches.”

Former champions Harbour View, who have had a roller-coaster season by their standards, have crafted their way in mid-pack and stand ready to pounce should there be a slip-up above them.

With 35 points for sixth-place, the ‘Stars of the East’ will want to get three points to move them up in the standings at the expense of south-bound Waterhouse when they meet at Drewsland at 6:00 pm.

The Drewsland outfit, with only 22 points and rooted at the bottom, seemed destined for the relegation wilderness, but the former champions are expected to fight to the end in an effort to rescue club and community pride.

But even if Waterhouse can conjure a last-ditch, death-defying lunge, it may still be too little too late with officially only five preliminary games remaining.

Having effected numerous coaching changes in a desperate bid to reverse the club’s fortunes, Waterhouse continued their freefall.

And only recently, have they gone back for Anthony Patrick, and he’s expected to do what those immediately before him failed miserably to accomplish.

“This (avoid relegation) will be very tough and a challenging one, but we will be up for the challenge which we can overcome,” Patrick said.

One Waterhouse player, Oshane Roberts, says his teammates remarkably have kept a fire of hope burning.

“With seven games (for Waterhouse) remaining, we still have hope, but we have to start winning to move us up the ladder,” he said.

Waterhouse, like champions Arnett Gardens, have played only 26 games.

Harbour View assistant coach, club legend Ricardo ‘Bibi’ Gardner, argued that nothing less than three points from Waterhouse will suffice.

“We are looking towards beating Waterhouse come Sunday,” said the former Reggae Boyz skipper and Bolton Wanderers standout.

In two meetings this season Harbour View registered identical 1-0 victories.

In another game today at 3:30 pm, Boys’ Town (31 points) and Reno FC (31), ninth and 10th, respectively, will be engaged in a dogfight, not necessarily to move into the exclusive club of the top four, but to drift away from the dreaded drop zone.

In the Barbican clash, Boys’ Town will want to keep their psychological edge over the Westmoreland outfit, having defeated them 2-0 and then drawing 1-1 in two meetings this season.

Today’s reduced schedule is due to Arnett’s participation in the ongoing CFU Club Championship in the Dominican Republic. Last season’s RSPL runners-up Montego Bay United (MBU) will also be on CFU Club Championship duties in their hometown starting Wednesday.

Arnett Gardens were due to visit Humble Lion, while MBU were scheduled to entertain Tivoli Gardens.

— Additional reporting by Gerald ReidToday’s games

— Additional reporting by Gerald Reid

Today’s games

3:30 pm — Boys’ Town FC vs Reno FC @ Barbican Stadium

3:30 pm — Rivoli United vs UWI FC @ Spanish Town Prison Oval

6:00 pm — Waterhouse FC vs Harbour View FC @ Drewsland Stadium

Tomorrow’s game

Tomorrow’s game

8:40 pm — Cavalier SC vs Portmore United @ Stadium East