Champions and current leaders Arnett Gardens and second-placed and last season’s beaten finalists Portmore United clash in a tantalising game that highlights the ninth round of games in the Red Stripe Premier League, at the Spanish Town Prison Oval today.

Match time is 3:00 pm.

In the three other games, also scheduled for 3:00 pm kick-offs, Cavalier SC will host the University of the West Indies (UWI) at Stadium East; Sandals South Coast FC tackle Boys’ Town at Frome and Tivoli Gardens take on Humble Lion at the Edward Seaga Sports Complex.

At 6:30 pm, Waterhouse FC travel to Montego Bay United, while in the Monday night game, Harbour View host Reno at the Compound starting at 8:35 pm.

In the feature encounter today, both Arnett Gardens and Portmore United have once again asserted their dominance after eight games. Arnett Gardens, on top with 18 points courtesy of five wins and three draws, remain the only unbeaten team in the league.

Portmore United were early table-toppers but, following two consecutive defeats, lost the lead but have recovered with a thumping 4-1 win over Boys’ Town in a rescheduled game on Wednesday to be just two points adrift of the “Junglists”.

The Prison Oval should be buzzing with excitement as the top two teams in the country clash once again with revenge certainly on Portmore’s mind. With the likes of Jermie Lynch, Jovan East, Ricardo Morris, Ewan Grandison, Henrico Ricketts, Roshane Sharpe and Maalique Foster in the reckoning, Portmore will be gunning for victory.

Portmore head coach and former Reggae Boyz captain Shavar Thomas said the history between both clubs runs deep and fans should expect fireworks.

“(These are) two teams who are always playing quality football and entertaining the fans and that’s what you can expect tomorrow (today). From our end, we are looking to get three points because we want to be at the top of the table come the end of the round, and what better way to do it than beat the guys who are in front right now,” Thomas pointed out.

But Arnett are no pushovers and seem to have found their rhythm, with all their top players back in the squad from overseas. The wily Fabian Reid will again lead the front line, with the impressive Marvin Morgan, Kenneil Hyde, Vishinul Harris, Ricardo Oldham, Renae Lloyd, Oneil Thompson, Newton Sterling, Jabeur Johnson, Jamar Martin and the tricky Damari Deacon coming off the bench.

Arnett head coach Jerome Waite says he expects another tough game.

“As you all know we are the champions, so we are always up against the eleven other teams. And one of their objectives is to get a point or collect three from the champion, and that’s something they always looking forward to,” Waite said.

Meanwhile, at the other end of the spectrum, the promoted Sandals South Coast have the perfect opportunity to grab their historic first win in top flight football when they host Boys’ Town at Frome at 3:00 pm in a bottom-of-the-table clash.

The Aaron Lawrence-coached Sandals are at the bottom in 12th spot on three points from eight games with five defeats. Boys’ Town have not done much better and are just three points above in 11th spot on six points. The “Red Brigades” have won just once while tasting defeat four times.

The astute coach Donovan Duckie makes a return to the Premier League as head coach of Waterhouse, tasked with turning things around for the struggling club. His first test is against Montego Bay United, who have found wins hard to come by.

Waterhouse are currently 10th on seven points, just one point above the relegation zone, while Montego Bay are one point above them in ninth spot with eight points.

At the Edward Seaga Sports Complex, home team Tivoli Gardens and Humble Lion meet in what will be an exciting game between two teams loaded with talent. Tivoli Gardens are unbeaten in their last five games and have climbed into fifth spot on 12 points, while the inconsistent Humble Lion are eighth with eight points.

The fifth and final match-up today pits together two teams in Cavalier and UWI, the latter quite capable of producingtop-quality football that could destroy any opponent.

The promoted Cavalier are down in seventh on 11 points, while UWI are third with 14 points.