The play-off race in the Red Stripe Premier League (RSPL) is down to the wire with five teams vying for the three remaining places at the culmination of the preliminary stage.

Going into today’s 33rd match day, runaway leaders Portmore United and the respective second- and third-placed Arnett Gardens FC and Tivoli Gardens FC have already secured their top-six play-off spots.

Throughout the preliminary stage, Portmore, last season’s losing finalists, have accumulated 66 points from 32 games, 16 points clear of their closest rivals. Such has been Portmore’s dominance that they secured the number-one seed and honours for the league phase from weeks ago.

At the opposite end of the points standing, seasoned campaigners Boys’ Town FC and first-timers Sandals South Coast FC are condemned to lower-tier football next season.

But in the middle of the table there is plenty to play for.

The fourth-placed Cavalier SC outfit is one of those teams on the edge of progression. Cavalier are on 47 points and will go through with victory against hosts and defending champions Arnett Gardens (50 points) at Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex in St Andrew. Even a draw or a loss may not rule out Cavalier, depending on results in other games.

Though already sure of a play-off place, there is vital incentive for Arnett Gardens to win this game since the top two teams at the end of the preliminaries earn a bye to the semi-finals, instead of enduring the hassle of the quarter-finals among the other four qualified sides.

Fifth-placed Waterhouse, another team on 47 points but with an inferior goal difference to Cavalier’s, are expected to have a straightforward assignment when they visit Barbican Sports Complex in St Andrew to face nominal hosts Boys’ Town FC. The Boys’ Town side, 11th in the 12-team standing on 21 points, has nothing to play for but pride.

Harbour View FC have 46 points and occupy sixth place — the last spot through to the play-offs. They need a win against Portmore at Spanish Town Prison Oval in St Catherine to stay clear of the chasing pack. Anything less would leave them sweating on other results.

The University of the West Indies (UWI) FC, seventh on 45 points, are one of those teams waiting to pounce. They welcome Tivoli Gardens (50 points) to Mona Bowl in St Andrew.

The tight nature of the 2017-18 RSPL preliminary stage means that even eighth-placed Humble Lion FC (43 points) still have a long shot at the play-offs. They are expected to give their utmost best when they entertain out-of-contention Montego Bay United, who are ninth on 41 points, at Effortville Community Centre in Clarendon.

Reno FC are also without a hope of advancing. The former champions, who are 10th with 39 points, and last-placed neighbours Sandals South Coast FC (19 points) have little to play for when they meet at Frome Sports Complex in Westmoreland.

Today’s games

Arnett Gardens vs Cavalier @ Anthony Spaulding Complex

Boys’ Town vs Waterhouse @ Barbican Complex

Reno vs Sandals South Coast @ Frome Complex

Humble Lion vs Montego Bay @ Effortville Centre

Portmore United vs Harbour View @ Prison Oval

UWI vs Tivoli Gardens @ Mona Bowl

All games to start 3:00 pm