It’s a dog eat dog situation as former champions Reno and Montego Bay United meet in their Red Stripe Premier League (RSPL) bottom-of-the-table clash at Frome staring at 3:30 pm.

In the other two games at 3:30 pm, Humble Lion host Mount Pleasant and the University of the West Indies (UWI) tackle champions Portmore United at Mona Bowl. At 5:00 pm, Cavalier take on Dunbeholden at the Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex at 7:00 pm. In the televised Monday Night game, Arnett Gardens host Waterhouse at 8:35 pm.

The spotlight will once again be on the relegation battle where cellar teams face-off in a critical game that could very well send one or both into relegation.

Westmoreland-based Reno are bottom with 23 points with Montego Bay United of St James just a point above in 11th spot on 24 points.

A win for either team would massively enhance their chances of avoiding the drop, while a draw might just dump both teams out of the top flight.

Reno are in dire straits, winning just once in their last 19 games inclusive of eight defeats, which is a recipe for relegation. However, they can enter the game with some degree of confidence having played Montego Bay United twice with both games ending in 0-0 and 1-1 draws.

Montego Bay ended a winless streak with victory over Cavalier last week and it was their second win in their last 15 games. Both teams are struggling, but the edge must be with Montego Bay United with the lethal Dino Williams in the line-up.

Sitting just above the bottom two teams are another former champion Harbour View in 10th spot on 27 points and they search for valuable points against a Tivoli Gardens in seventh position (35 points) and still hunting a play-off spot of which they are six points adrift.

Harbour View have not won in their last seven games and cannot afford to slip any further sitting just three points above the relegation zone. They drew 1-1 with Tivoli Gardens in their first encounter, then were blown away 1-5 on November 25. Both teams have their motives, and playing at home, Harbour View might be that more desperate to secure a most important victory.

The spotlight continues on the relegation teams as Dunbeholden, on 28 points in ninth spot, travel to the Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex to play third-placed Cavalier on 48 points and who have virtually secured a play-off spot.

The promoted Dunbeholden have lost just once in their last eight games and have moved out of the relegation zone and are hoping to move further away from it. They face a Cavalier team which has lost some momentum after losing players to overseas clubs and have lost two of their last three games.

But the pressure is really on Dunbeholden sitting just four points above the relegation zone and they must deliver or fall right back into the clutches of relegation hell.

With five games remaining, there is a slight chance that Humble Lion can still make the play-offs. They are in eighth spot on 31 points, 10 points behind Arnett Gardens holding onto the last play-off spot on 41 points.

Humble Lion take on a Mount Pleasant team in fourth spot on 47 points and basically assured of a play-off spot in this their first year in top-flight football. But Humble Lion will have their hands full against a Mount Pleasant team hunting their fifth-consecutive win.

Champions and leaders Portmore United travel to the Mona Bowl to play the UWI, looking for their fifth-consecutive win. Portmore lead the table by five points sitting on 56 points, while UWI are fifth on 42 points. Incidentally, UWI is the last team to beat Portmore United on January 13 and will be hoping to repeat. But Portmore are fine-tuning for the play-offs and will not be easily beaten.

Tomorrow, second-placed Waterhouse, on 51 points, travel to the Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex to face sixth-placed Arnett Gardens (41 points) and aiming to consolidate their play-off position.

In two games this season, Arnett Gardens are yet to taste victory against their fierce rivals and will be looking to change that. But Waterhouse are tough to break down, hence the stage is set for an epic battle in the Jungle.

Today’s games

3:30pm – FC Reno vs Montego Bay United FC @ Frome Complex

3:30pm – Humble Lion FC vs Mount Pleasant FA @ Effortville Community Centre

3:30pm – UWI FC vs Portmore United FC @ UWI Mona Bowl

5:00pm – Cavalier FC vs Dunbeholden FC @ Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex 7:00pm – Harbour View FC vs Tivoli Gardens FC @ Harbour View Stadium

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Monday

8:35pm – Arnett Gardens FC vs Waterhouse FC @ Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex