Former champions Tivoli Gardens, Harbour View FC and Humble Lions FC will all be hunting favourable results to bring the curtains down on regular season action of the Jamaica Premier League (JPL) and, by extension, eke out the final play-off spot to keep their title hopes alive.

Of the trio, eighth-placed Humble Lion (25 points) holds an advantage in more ways than one. The Andrew Price-coached team are enjoying a four-match unbeaten run and in addition to that, have a more favourable fixture against 11th-placed Molynes United (15 points) in their backyard at Effortville Community Centre in Clarendon.

Harbour View, who currently occupies the coveted sixth position on 27 points, only needs to avoid defeat to consolidate their spot in the play-off, but walking away unscathed against second-placed Dunbeholden FC (43 points) will take some doing. Wembley Center of Excellence, also in Clarendon, will host this contest.

Seventh-placed Tivoli Gardens (25 points), who at one point seemed home and dry in the play-off position, have some how managed to dash their chances with three-consecutive losses and champions Cavalier, in fifth on 35 points, will be doing them no favours today in this closed door contest at UWI-JFF Captain Horace Burrell Centre of Excellence.

Like Humble Lion, Tivoli Gardens will be hoping to take care of business on their end, while banking on Dunbeholden FC to put a dent in Harbour View’s chances.

However, should the “Stars of the East” secure the requisite point, which would take them to 28 points, then both Humble Lion and the West Kingston-based outfit would have to win by five or more goals, to keep things interesting, as both currently have a minus two goal difference to Harbour View’s three.

With Molynes United failing to secure a win in their last seven fixtures, the scales are heavily tilted in the favour of Humble Lion to take another three points off their struggling opponents, while Harbour View and Tivoli Gardens are expected to have their hands full against the two teams that have already qualified.

But football is often said to be a game of glorious uncertainty which means any number can play on the day regardless of stats, and so one thing is for certain, all three teams will have to put their best foot forward and execute efficiently if they are to roll with the proverbial big boys later on.

While Dunbeholden and regular season winners Waterhouse (49 points) have secured byes into the semi-final, both Arnett Gardens and Mount Pleasant will be hunting wins in their respective encounters in the battle for third position.

This as the third-placed team would face the sixth-placed team, while the fourth-placed team will face Cavalier in the playoffs for the next two semi-final spots.

Arnett Gardens, who currently occupies third position on 39 points, will be at home against the well-oiled Waterhouse team, on a 10-match unbeaten run.

Meanwhile, fourth-placed Mount Pleasant (38 points) FA will host ninth-placed Portmore United (20 points) at Drax Hall Sports Complex in St Ann.

An expected win for Mount Pleasant would propel them ahead, provided Arnett Gardens lose or draw. But if both fixtures end in a stalemate, then things would remain as you were, as both Arnett Gardens and Mount Pleasant have an identical 12 goal difference.

It should be noted, though, that prior to their current unbeaten run, one of Waterhouse’s two defeats this season came in the form a of 0-1 scoreline to none other than Arnett Gardens and so this encounter at Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex should offer some excitement.

Meanwhile, cellar-dwellers Montego Bay United (11 points) and 10th-place Vere United (19 points) will meet in the day’s other fixture to salvage some pride heading into next season.

— Sherdon Cowan