After battling out an explosive first-leg semi-final fixture, fireworks are once again expected when champions Arnett Gardens and Montego Bay United (MBU) face off in the all-important second-leg encounter of the 2015/16 Red Stripe Premier League (RSPL) season today.

It is expected to be a pulsating atmosphere at the Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex this evening at 6:00 pm, as football enthusiasts will travel from near and far to witness the ultimate showdown of this fierce rivalry.

In three meetings between the two this season, the ‘Junglists’ have been the most dominant outfit, winning twice and drawing once away to their rivals.

Those 2-2, 2-1, 2-1 scorelines virtually threw salt in the wounds of MBU, who had set out to make amends after being dethroned by Arnett Gardens by an identical 2-1 scoreline in last year’s final.

But the St James-situated outfit may have left it for the big stage to shake the proverbial monkey off their backs, and drew first blood with a 2-1 win in an enthralling first-leg contest at the western end of the island on Monday last.

However, with the battle now shifting to the eastern region and Arnett Gardens now at their south St Andrew base, they will relish the electrifying atmosphere that they are accustomed to when they rumble in the jungle.

At home, Arnett Gardens are rated as the best attacking and defensive unit — scoring 31 times, while conceding a mere 12 in the 33-game-long preliminary round. So with a one-goal deficit not beyond them, it would take a high risk taker to bet against them.

Head Coach Jerome Waite is promising an all-out assault, hinting at possible changes to the starting team with the aim of bolstering the midfield region.

“It definitely will be an all-out attack; we know Mobay (MBU) is a strong unit going forward as well, but we are the team that is behind at this time, so we will have to put everything going forward.

“As long as we have all our players up and ready in all areas we will be looking for an excellent game,” Waite pointed out while addressing journalists at the RSPL press conference at Red Stripe’s Spanish Town Road base on Thursday.

Meanwhile, Captain Oneil ‘Bigga’ Thompson, who has been instrumental in Arnett Gardens’ defensive line, is also anticipating a ferocious battle.

“It will be exciting because there is nothing to hold back. It is a game that one side has to go home and I don’t think any of the teams want to go home. We all know what we have to do to continue all the way and we plan to execute come Sunday (today),” he noted.

While Arnett Gardens possess prowess at home, MBU have been the most destructive playing away.

The Paul ‘Tegat’ Davis-coached MBU have converted 24 goals and only conceded 13, which presents them as formidable opponents.

Javae Munroe, an MBU official, believes the deficit can both be an advantage and disadvantage for his team heading into the contest.

“A one-goal lead is not much to consider going into the second leg; it can be a pro and a con, but mathematically it is a plus. It can also be a negative, because now Arnett Gardens will come out and play extra hard, so we are expecting a much harder game than we played on Monday night,” he said.

Arnett Gardens, with the depth of their squad, could play a possible 3-5-2 attacking formation, which could read Damion Hyatt in goal with Thompson, Dicoy Williams and Jabeur Johnson making up the defensive line.

The creative Vishinul Harris, Renae Lloyd, Kenniel Hyde, Marvin Morgan and Andrew Phang could be favoured to marshal the midfield, with Kemal Malcolm and Michaelos Martin in attack.

They also possess Ranike Anderson, Jason Moore, Neicko Williams, Lennox Russell, Leon Strickland and Newton Sterling, among others to call upon.

MBU, on the other hand, will be without key players Dino Williams, Ronaldo Rodney and Cordel Simpson who are out on injuries. Still, they possess other quality players who could figure prominently.

A possible 4-3-3 formation could read Jacomeno Barrett in goal, with Ladale Richie, Orlando McBayne, Winston Wilkinson and John Barrett in defence. Captain Dwayne Ambusley, Keniel Kirlew and Jermaine Woozencroft could occupy the midfield positions, with Cory Hylton, Allan Ottey and the prolific Owayne Gordon making up the attacking trio.

The likes of Donovan Carey, Kemar Drake, and Quante Abbott-Hill-Smith could also figure at some point.

So with not much between the two teams, today’s game should be an intriguing clash of two giants of the local game.