FORMER champions Portmore United should be fighting tooth and nail when they host Humble Lions in a key, top six play-off matchup at 4:00 pm, while Faulkland FC are expected to be relegated from the Jamaica Premier League today when they face Arnett Gardens at Catherine Hall at 3:00 pm.

In other games today there will be a double-header at the Waterhouse Mini Stadium, with Molynes United taking on Tivoli Gardens at 2:00 pm before Waterhouse FC face Cavalier SC at 4:15 pm. In the second game at Catherine Hall, Montego Bay tackle Harbour View at 5:30 pm.

On Monday there will be two games at the Jamaica College Ashenhiem Stadium where Dunbeholden take on Vere United at 5:00 pm before Mount Pleasant play Chapelton Maroons at 7:30 pm.

With Cavalier, Arnett Gardens and Mount Pleasant having all but booked their play-off spots there is a mad rush involving four teams — Harbour View, Humble Lion, Waterhouse and Portmore United — for the three remaining places.

Two of the protagonists, Humble Lions in fifth spot on 39 points and seventh-place Portmore United on 35 points, clash at Ferdie Neita Park in a mammoth encounter.

Despite looking fairly comfortably in fifth spot a defeat for Humble Lions would make it sticky in the last two games — and Head Coach Andrew Price is cognisant of the fact.

“All games from now until the end of the season are difficult games, and this one against Portmore United is no exception,” Price told the Jamaica Observer.

“But, difficult games are part of the run-in for the rest of the season. We have to be consistent and pick up as many points as possible so we are prepared to do whatever it takes to get a positive result,” he explained.

A win for Portmore United would see them move to within just a point of Humble Lions but still be out of a play-off spot, but the Phillip Williams-coached team cannot afford to slip up any further.

“It’s a very tough game, both in the quality of the opponent and also in terms of the physical aspect of their game,” Williams points out.

“We are playing at home, and in order for us to get the three points we so badly need we have to be brave and expressive while acknowledging what Humble Lions will bring, but not letting their style of play stop us from imposing our style on them,” said Williams.

He continued: “With three games to go it’s important for us to pick up all the points we can, no matter the opponent or where the game is played.”

On January 22 Humble Lions won their first encounter 1-0, and the stage is set for another close encounter. Portmore United will be depending on in form Chevaughn Marsh, Alex Marshall and Lamar Walker for victory while Humble Lions will hope the likes of Andrew Vanzie, Leaughn Williams and Roshane Sharpe deliver the goods.

Meanwhile 13th-place Faulkland FC, on 11 points, face relegation head on and only a miracle can help them as they will have to win all their remaining games and hope that both Tivoli Gardens (19 points) and Vere United (19) lose all their remaining games.

Faulkland have a very difficult game against an Arnett Gardens team sitting in second spot on 46 points and aiming for an automatic semi-final play-off spot available to the top two teams.

Playing in this their first season of top flight football the St James-based Faulkland should be joining Chapelton Maroons who were relegated last week.

Former champions Waterhouse FC, who are holding on to the last play-off spot sitting sixth on 37 points, have a difficult task against leaders Cavalier SC on 46 points and are sailing along. Waterhouse will be buoyed by the fact that they won their first encounter 1-0.

Champions Harbour View, in fourth spot on 40 points, will be looking to consolidate their play-off position when they play a less-than-motivated Montego Bay United team down in 10th spot on 26 points with basically nothing to play for but pride.

Sitting in 11th place on 19 points Tivoli Gardens need a point to put the thought of relegation to bed. They face ninth-place Molynes United on 27 points and are out of contention for a play-off spot.

Today’s games

2:00 pm — Molynes United vs Tivoli Gardens at Waterhouse Mini Stadium

3:00 pm — Faulkland vs Arnett Gardens at Catherine Hall Sports Complex

4:00 pm — Portmore United vs Humble Lions at Ferdie Neita Park

4:15 pm — Waterhouse vs Cavalier at Waterhouse Mini Stadium

5:30 pm — Montego Bay United vs Harbour View at Catherine Hall Sports Complex

Monday’s games

5:00 pm — Dunbeholden vs Vere United at Jamaica College Ashenhiem Stadium

7:30 pm — Mount Pleasant vs Chapelton Maroons at Jamaica College Ashenhiem Stadium