University of the West Indies (UWI) will be seeking to snap leaders Portmore United’s three-match unbeaten run, and by extension resume winning ways, when both teams meet in the Red Stripe Premier League (RSPL) at Spanish Town Prison Oval today at 3:00 pm.

In the other early fixtures, ninth-placed Dunbeholden FC (six points) welcome fourth-place Cavalier FC (10 points); second-place Mount Pleasant (13 points) will play host to cellar-dwellers Humble Lion (three points); while third-place Tivoli Gardens (12 points) will also be at home to 11th-place Harbour View (four points).

The day’s late contest will see seventh-place Waterhouse (eight points), entertaining sixth-placed Arnett Gardens (nine points) at 7:00 pm.

All venues are expected to be abuzz with excitement as teams continue to find their footing in the early phase of the competition.

But Prison Oval should take the spotlight as UWI FC are aiming to rebound from a tough 0-1 loss to Tivoli Gardens in their last outing at the expense of champions and leaders Portmore United, who will be aiming to extend their lead atop the standings with a fourth-consecutive victory.

Only three points separate both teams, with Portmore United on top with 13 points and UWI FC down in tfifth spot on 10 points.

The rivalry between these two teams over the past seasons has always been a delight for spectators, and today’s contest is expected to be no different with fluent attacking football.

Portmore United have been fairly consistent since losing 1-2 to promoted outfit Mount Pleasant to start the competition, winning four and drawing one in their following five fixtures — and win number five could very well be on the cards for the reigning champions.

The Shavar Thomas-coached team will expect much from the likes of Rondee Smith, Ricardo Morris, Chavanny Willis, Venton Evans, Donnegy Fer, Roshane Sharpe, Damano Solomon, Rosario Harriott, and Roberto Johnson, among others.

UWI FC, on the other hand, have enjoyed somewhat of a lukewarm run of form, with three wins, two losses and one draw in their six fixtures thus far.

But the university side is well known for its resilient spirit, and a 3-0 win over Arnett Gardens prior to their recent loss is a good indicator that UWI FC know how to show up at the appointed time.

The likes of Kemoy Atkinson, Michael Heaven, Rochane Smith, Ryan Miller, Fabian McCarthy, Andrae Bernal, Davian Garrison and Anthony Greenland will be expected to turn up for the Andrew Peart-coached team if they are to upset their more-fancied rivals.

It will be a battle of the youthful teams when promoted outfit Dunbeholden and Cavalier SC lock horns at Royal lakes.

Though Cavalier, riding high on a 5-1 whipping of Montego Bay United on last, is favoured to take all three points, Dunbeholden will be banking on hometown support to upset the applecart.

The young and talented Rudolph Speid-conditioned Cavalier has been on the upgrade following back-to-back losses on match days three and four, and will be confident of registering win number four of the campaign today.

But the St Catherine-based Dunbeholden will also be bubbling with confidence that the task at hand is not beyond them, as their capabilities were revealed when they outscored an experienced Humble Lion team 4-3 in their last match.

St Ann-based Mount Pleasant are expected to stay close to or even overtake the leaders today, as they are favoured to prolong the misery of Humble Lion who are still searching for their first win of the season.

The Donovan Duckie-coached Mount Pleasant should serve up a treat for fans at Drax Hall by registering win number five of the season and third on the trot, but will have to put every foot right as Humble Lion are expected to come full force in the hunt for their first scalp.

After recently halting a two-match losing skid with a 1-0 win over UWI FC, Tivoli Gardens could make it two-in-two against Harbour View who, like Humble Lion, are finding points hard to come by.

The late-evening clash between last year’s beaten finalist Waterhouse and Arnett Gardens will be a repeat of last season’s semi-final and should be a humdinger, as both teams are seeking to return to winning ways.

Arnett Gardens, who have lost two on the trot, will be more desperate for a win to break the shackles on their poor run of form, while Waterhouse, though playing some good football, have failed to get the desired results and are expected to prove a handful.

Meanwhile, a western showdown between Montego Bay United (eight points), who currently occupy eighth position, and 10th-place Reno FC (six points) will be the Monday night encounter at Montego Bay Sports Complex in Catherine Hall.