No prisoners are expected to be taken at Spanish Town Prison Oval today as Portmore United and Cavalier resume their semi-final battle for a spot in the final of the Red Stripe Premier League (RSPL) at 3:00 pm.

Last Sunday both teams played to a 0-0 draw in the first leg at Stadium East field and will have everything to play for today.

Portmore United should start favourites to advance, but Cavalier remain a most dangerous team and, based on the first-leg encounter, cannot be taken lightly.

Cavalier Head coach Rudolph Speid is certainly one of the front-runners for Coach of the Year honours, having guided this young and talented team from relegation in 2016, straight back into top flight football, and now into the semi-finals of the RSPL.

After just seven games, Cavalier, like Waterhouse, were on seven points from seven games. But, unlike Glendon “Admiral” Bailey who quit Waterhouse, Speid didn’t resign, instead he soldiered on and his team is into the semi-final.

Cavalier failed to secure the first-leg advantage at homewhen they played with an extra man after Portmore United’s Andre Dyce saw red in minute 71. Now they play away at Prison Oval, the home of Potmore, but Speid is unperturbed.

“After Portmore went down to 10 men they pulled back their players and were content to stay behind the ball thinking that when they go on their turf they will have a home advantage. But I don’t think anywhere in Jamaica you have a home advantage, really,” Speid pointed out.

“But before the red card I thought we got the best chances, which we should have done better (with) based on the players we had. We left our shooting boots, so I hope we carry it to the party and get a victory,” said Speid.

Speid has done what most coaches are afraid to do and that is stick with his youngsters, and now they have grown into a most formidable unit.

Cavalier brushed aside Tivoli Gardens 2-0 on aggregate in the quarter-finals and had the better exchanges against Pormore United.

Their wonderful season is being spurred by goalkeeper David Mitchell, Chevone Marsh, Alex Marshall, Nicholas Hamilton, Paul Wilson, Kemar Shaw, Kaheem Parris, Nique Daley, Jamoi Topey, Clifton Woodbine, Gadail Irving and Kamoy Simpson.

But the Shavar Thomas-led Portmore United are no pushovers. It is no surprise that they finished well clear atop of the preliminary rounds points standing.

Despite their good work throughout the season however, if they don’t get it right on Sunday, all of that would have gone down the drain.

The tough-tackling Dyce will be out on a red card, while top player Maalique Foster, who was injured last Sunday, has not recoverd in time and will certainly be missed.

Portmore United were clearly shaken up by Cavalier in the first leg, and they now know they have a match on their hands.

“We have faith and we believe in what we have been doing all season and it has brought us this far, so we believe just the same,” said Thomas.

“It is obviously a must-win game but we are confident that we will be making it to the finals. The guys are ready and also what they have shown this whole season and this past week in training has given us great confidence in we moving on,” he added.

The inspirational captain Ewan Grandison will have to marshall his troops expertly to reach their third-consecutive final, while the experienced Ricardo Morris could be a factor.

Jermie Lynch, Javon East, Roshane Shape, Venton Evans, Saneekie Burton, Rondee Smith, Damano Solomon, Chevanny Willis and Henrico Ricketts are also expected to play important roles.