Title-favourites and 2016 beaten finalist Waterhouse FC and St Ann Women’s are expected to be in a fierce battle that will highlight match day four fixtures of the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF)/Lascelles Employees and Partners Co-operative Credit Union Women’s Premier League today.

The competition, which was scrapped last year due to a lack of sponsorship, is now back in full swing, and today’s fixtures involve a number of teams who are establishing their mark in the battle for over $1 million in cash.

Leaders Waterhouse (nine points) will be away to second-place St Ann Women’s (four points) at Drax Hall, while the other Zone A match will see cellar-dwellers Frazsiers Whip and Rangers FC squaring off at Dunbeholden Sports Complex.

In Group B, leaders Arnett Gardens (six points) will be away to third-placed Olympic Gardens (four points) at Cling Cling Oval, with second-placed Trelawny Women’s (four points) welcoming the pointless Real Mobay AFC.

All games are scheduled for kick-off at 4:00 pm.

Having secured maximum points in their three outings so far, Waterhouse will enter today’s contest requiring only a point to book a spot in the mid-season final, but they will have to put every foot right to get the desired result in what is expected to be their toughest task to date.

This will be Waterhouse’s final first-round group game and so getting the desired result will be critical, as they will be rested for Saturday’s fixtures which will be followed by the first round of the knock-out competition.

Though coming off a comfortable 4-1 victory over Frazsiers Whip on last, it was not the best of performances from the Xavier Gilbert-conditioned team, and the tactician himself is well aware that a much-improved showing should be the order of the day.

Waterhouse have a number of young and talented national players at their disposal and as such Gilbert is optimistic that the likes of their leading scorer Rochell Gray — on four goals — Latoya Duhaney, Tasheka Small, Imanie Richards and Tarania Clarke among others will come to the fore.

“It might be our toughest game but we are going in with the mindset to win while being mindful that avoiding defeat will take us through; so we just have to ensure that we do our best and maintain our perfect win record.

“They (St Ann) have some good players but I think we are a stronger unit than they are though, and so once the girls come out and do what they have to do then we should come out with maximum points,” Gilbert told the Jamaica Observer.

A victory for St Ann Women’s would put them in a firm position to upstage Waterhouse for the top spot in the mid-season final, as they would move to seven points and would be overwhelmingly favoured to take another three points off the lowly Rangers FC in the final first-round fixture.

Along with home court advantage, the Michael Donaldson-coached St Ann Women’s will have the fresher legs entering the contest by virtue of a break from last Saturday’s fixtures.

According to Donaldson, the likes of Lacey-Ann Murray and her peers are now fired up to upset their more-fancied opponents.

“The girls have been working hard in training in anticipation of this match against Waterhouse, so we are expecting them to go out there and give a good account of themselves. My assistant Michael Peddi used the break to go over some strategic plans that we want them to execute in the game and they are very confident heading in, and once they play as a unit we know they will come out victorious,” Donaldson shared.

Meanwhile, the improving Frazsiers Whip, who have managed to score against tougher opponents, could secure their first point of the season against St Mary-based Rangers FC, who are also without a point and a goal.

Third-placed Cavalier (four points) will be idle today.

In Zone B, 2014 beaten finalist Arnett Gardens will be hard- pressed to extend their unbeaten run against an Olympic Gardens team that is just starting to find their footing in the league.

Both teams are coming off 3-2 and 3-1 victories over SC Monarch and Real Mobay, respectively, and a possible goal fest could be on the cards with the three points set to go either way if not being shared.

However, a slip-up by Arnett Gardens could see Trelawny Women’s jumping into pole position as they are expected to comfortably take three points off Real Mobay, who are struggling to stay afloat.

Fourth-placed SC Monarchs (three points) will be the zone’s idle team.

Today’s schedule

Zone A

St Ann Women’s FC vs Waterhouse FC @ Drax Hall, St Ann

Frazsiers Whip FC vs Rangers FC @ Dunbeholden Sports Complex

Zone B

Trelawny Women’s vs Real Mobay AFC @ Elleston Wakeland Centre

Olympic Gardens vs Arnett Gardens FC @ Cling Cling Oval

*All games are scheduled for 4:00 pm