THE battle for play-off places rages on as the Red Stripe Premier League (RSPL) football season enters its 27th match day this afternoon.

One of the particularly interesting clashes is scheduled for Edward Seaga Sports Complex in west Kingston where play-off aspirants Tivoli Gardens FC and Cavalier SC lock horns in a 3:00 pm kick-off.

Cavalier, who have been in good nick since late December, are third in the 12-team table with 42 points from 26 games, and well on course to hold onto a vital top-six position.

In midweek action last time out they beat Sandals South Coast FC 2-1. A 0-2 slip to Harbour View FC on January 28 is the Rudolph Speid-coached team’s only loss in its last 10 games.

Tivoli Gardens, who have played 24 games, are five points behind in fourth, but have virtually been in reverse of late. They have lost three in their last five, while winning only once.

To compound matters, they were down to nine players, while trailing 0-2 and careening to their third-straight loss in their most recent outing away to Harbour View when bottle-throwing incidents forced the abandonment of that game midway the second half.

With both teams having seven games remaining before the end of the preliminary phase of the league, the stage is set for a keen contest. However, Tivoli’s staff, led by Head Coach Omar Edwards, will have it all to do to get players focused for the Cavalier hurdle.

In another tantalising contest, The University of the West Indies (UWI) FC welcome Reno FC to the Mona Bowl at 3 o’ clock.

Fifth-placed UWI, buoyed by back-to-back wins, have 35 points from 26 games, while seventh-placed Reno have 33 points, also from 26 outings.

At St Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS) in Santa Cruz, Sandals South Coast entertain Montego Bay United.

Sandals, in 11th place on 19 points, are staring relegation in the face, while Montego Bay, eyeing a play-off spot, are eighth on 31 points.

In the day’s other game, last-placed Boys’ Town (14 points), virtually doomed to lower-tier Super League football next season, host second-placed Arnett Gardens FC (45 points) at Barbican Sports Complex.

In tomorrow’s RSPL Monday Night contest, resurgent Waterhouse FC tackle Harbour View at Drewsland Stadium. The Waterhouse outfit is sixth with 33 points from 24 games, while Harbour View are ninth with 30 points from 25 games.

Today’s games

Boys’ Town vs Arnett Gardens @ Barbican Complex

Sandals South Coast vs Montego Bay United @ STETHS

Tivoli Gardens vs Cavalier @ Edward Seaga Complex

UWI vs Reno @ Mona Bowl

Tomorrow’s game

8:35 pm — Waterhouse vs Harbour View @ Drewsland Stadium

All games start 3:00 pm unless otherwise stated