With Cavalier Soccer Club having already secured one of the promotional spots to next season’s Red Stripe Premier League (RSPL), the battle for the second qualifier will be decided in the final round of the Magnum/Charley’s JB JFF Premier League Playoff today.

Kick-off time for both games is 3:30 pm.

The Kingston and St Andrew Football Association (KSAFA) champions, who currently lead the standing on nine points, will host second-placed Sandals South Coast on eight points, and the latter require only a point to advance. The game will be played at Stadium East.

But third-placed Rivoli United, on five points, are also in with a chance of progressing as victory against cellar dwellers Priory SA on two points at Spanish Town Prison Oval would set them up nicely should Sandals South Coast falter.

However, despite not having the services of Head Coach Aaron Lawrence, who is overseas on assignment with the National Under-15 squad, a loss for Sandals South Coast seems highly unlikely in this case.

The last meeting between the Western Confederation champions and Cavalier SC ended in a 1-1 draw at Crocs Lawn in Westmoreland, with Sandals South Coast coming from behind on that occasion.

A 1-4 loss to Rivoli at Prison Oval last week would have put a dent in their unbeaten record and possibly their confidence. But Sandals South Coast will be aware that they are already in the driver’s seat for the second promotional spot to the nation’s top-flight league, and as such a repeat of that performance, or an even better showing, is expected to be on the cards today.

The likes of Romaine Bennett, Ron Daley, Junior Neil, and Shemar Wright and company will be seeking to capitalise on the slightest show of complacency from Cavalier to ensure the Westmoreland-situated team a historic debut in 2017/18 season of top-flight football.

For Cavalier, today’s contest will be a means of protecting their unbeaten record, as well as to finish on a high, as they have already achieved the ultimate goal of getting back to the RSPL in short order, after being relegated from the 2015/16 season.

The Rudolph Speid-coached unit might still be revelling in their success, following last week’s 2-1 win over Priory SA at Drax Hall, and Captain Ryan Miller and his youthful bunch of Alex Marshall and National Under-17 representative Kaheem Paris, among others, are not expected to make it an easy task for Sandals South Coast.

Meanwhile, South Central winners and former Premier League outfit Rivoli United will be hoping for a win from Cavalier against Sandals South Coast, which will open the door for them to join the KSAFA team in the RSPL.

Rivoli will be riding high on their crucial 4-1 win over Sandals last time out but while optimistic about a loss for Sandals South Coast, they will have to take three points from Priory SA to bring goal difference into play, should Sandals miss out.

The Anthony Thompson-conditioned team will be led by Liston James, Kenny Lee, Owen Walters, Davion Alves, Jeremy Nelson, and Don Reid in their bid to once again capitalise on home advantage to secure the three points needed, but it might be a cry of too little too late in the end.

Eastern Confederation champions Priory SA, formerly Volvo, are out of contention at the foot of the four-team table, and today’s contest will be one of academic interest from their perspective.

However, regardless of their current position, they will take comfort in the fact that they did get the better of their opponents in a 1-0 scoreline in their previous meeting and another win today would strengthen their resolve as they look ahead to next year’s qualification phase.

Their main players are Dario Stewart, Mario Gordon, Carlos Barrett, Shimar Stewart, and Aliem Campbell.