KINGSTON, Jamaica — The race for promotion to next season’s Jamaica Premier League will intensify on Sunday with matches in the first legs of the semi-finals of the Jamaica Football Federation Tier II competition.

Racing United, who topped the regular season points standings, will host Lime Hall Academy at Prison Oval and Treasure Beach FC will take on Tru-Juice FC at Breads Sports Complex, both games set to kick off at 3:30 pm.

The return legs are set for next Sunday and the winners on aggregate will meet in the final set on July 9 and will replace Chapleton Maroons and Faulkland FC in the JPL.

Treasure Beach FC are making back-to-back appearances in the semi-finals after being beaten by Chapleton Maroons while Tru-Juice FC, who had just failed to make it to the top four, were beaten on goal-difference.

Lime Hall Academy was one of the most improved teams this season after finishing ninth in the 12-team competition last season while Racing United are in their first season of Tier II after qualifying with Browns Town FC through the qualifying that ended in March.

Racing United and Treasure Beach FC will have psychological advantages after they had beaten Lime Hall Academy and Tru-Juice respectively and will be at home.

Tru-Juice FC finished the first round on a roll with four games unbeaten, winning three and scoring 19 of their 33 goals but their most recent loss was against Treasure Beach.

Treasure Beach limped to the finish after qualifying with two games to go and will have to lift their standard if they are to turn around their fortunes after being held to a draw by Hopewell United and losing to Racing United in the final round.

Racing United scored 60 goals in 13 games played and will be favourites in the eyes of most to get one of the promotion places but they will face a Lime Hall Academy team that has shown they can go toe-to-toe with the best.

The St Ann-based Lime Hall can be considered the Cinderellas of the semi-finals and with no weight of expectations, could pull off an upset.