KINGSTON, Jamaica — Former champions Tivoli Gardens and Waterhouse FC will hope to bolster their chances of getting a play-off spot when they take on Harbour View FC and Portmore United, respectively, in the third round of the Jamaica Premier League on Sunday.

With four of the six spots already secured and defending champions Cavalier SC mathematically needing only a point from their remaining four games to advance, the race is between the two Kingston-based teams for the remaining spots.

At the other end of the tables, the race against relegation is even more intense, with five teams separated by one point, trying to avoid joining Vere United in the Jamaica Football Federation Championships next season.

Waterhouse FC, who currently occupy sixth place on 52 points, will be seeking back-to-back wins over fourth-placed and qualifiers Portmore United when they meet at Ferdie Neita Complex.

Only one goal has been scored across the previous two games between the two this season — Waterhouse FC’s 1-0 win in the second round after they had played out a 0-0 draw in the first round meeting.

Waterhouse FC, who only clinched sixth place on the final day last season, are unbeaten in their last six games, and have scored just 40 goals in 36 games, the least among the top seven teams in the league.

On Sunday, they face the second-best defence, at least on paper, as Portmore have only given up 22 goals all year, second only to leaders and semi-final qualifiers Mt Pleasant FA.

Tivoli Gardens are a point behind Waterhouse and will hope to get the better of Harbour View, who are winless in their last three games and are a point above the drop zone themselves, despite being in ninth place.

Tivoli Gardens are on a late-season rally of their own, unbeaten in their last nine and could be in a play-off spot Sunday if they can extend their unbeaten run.

The first versus second meeting between Mt Pleasant FA and Montego Bay United should be the feature game, but with both fairly secure in their positions, it could ease some of the competitiveness from the game.

Mt Pleasant FA have secure the top place in the points tables with 84 points and have allowed just a solitary goal in their last six games, five wins and a draw, while Montego Bay United are in second place on 72 points, five clear of third placed Arnett Gardens and appears well set to finish second and secure an automatic semi-final spot.

After their gallant chase for a play-off spot ended after a third straight loss on Thursday, Racing United will have little to play for, with their place in the league for next season secured, but they could still play a part in Molynes United’s fate.

Molynes United are next to last but are nine points better than last-placed Vere United and still only a few points from safety, and a win could swing their fortunes.

Molynes United are coming off a win against Dunbeholden FC and had beaten Racing United in their first round game, but then lost by a close 3-2 margin in the second round.

One point separates Dunbeholden FC and Humble Lion, and it would be a good bet that neither team would settle for a draw on Sunday at Effortville when a win could be the difference between staying in the league for another year and going down to the championships.

— Paul Reid