Montego Bay United (MBU) and Portmore United will both be eyeing the top spot of the points table as the second round of the Jamaica Premier League kicks off this afternoon with five games scheduled.

MBU trail leaders Racing United on goal difference, both on 26 points one more than Portmore, who are on 24 points, both hoping to rebound from losses.

Coming off a loss to a limping Waterhouse FC, MBU will be home at Jarrett Park to fourth-placed Mount Pleasant FA while Portmore will be home to Dunbeholden.

Also today, defending champions Cavalier are away to Harbour View, Waterhouse will hope for a win under new Coach Javier Ainstein when they host Molynes United in the second game of a double-header at Drewsland after promoted teams Spanish Town Police (STP) and Treasure Beach meet in the opening game.

After a lacklustre performance in their return to Jarrett Park last Sunday, MBU will welcome a Mount Pleasant team that has conceded one goal in their last five games since the restart of the competition.

The teams played out a 2-2 draw in their opening game in late August but MBU have struggled since the restart, winning just once in four games and were tepid under the 3:00 pm sun at Jarrett Park on Sunday.

With the Caribbean Cup safely tucked away in St Ann, Mount Pleasant can pay full attention to the local league and while they have only lost once, they seem to be building up to the same momentum that took them to the top of the points table last season.

Warner Brown and Daniel Green have been scoring at will in their last few games and could give a brittle MBU defence some worry today.

Portmore will be hunting a second win over Dunbeholden this season after they had won their opening game 2-0 but faces a team unbeaten over their last four outings and are coming off a win over Tivoli Gardens.

Portmore were on a good run before stumbling to back-to-back losses, including last weekend’s upset at Treasure Beach and will hope they can get back to the winning column.

Cavalier and Harbour View were goalless in their first meeting this season and both teams will be eager for a win today.

Cavalier rebounded from back-to-back losses with a 3-0 win over Chapelton Maroons last week while Harbour View have drawn their last three games including back to back 0-0 draws.

Treasure Beach celebrated their return to the league with a 2-0 win over Portmore and will be seeking a second-straight Premier League win over STP, who were hammered 5-0 by Mount Pleasant.

STP were brought back to earth by Mount Pleasant after they had beaten Waterhouse 2-1 but will hope they can get a second win over the St Elizabeth-based club.

Waterhouse FC’s Rivaldo Mitchell (left) tries to shield the ball from Montego Bay United’s Richardo Ramsey in last weekend’s JPL game played at Jarrett Park. Mitchell’s first half goal gave Waterhouse FC a 1-0 win. (Photo: Paul Reid)

Justin Dunn (top) of Tivoli and Stephen Young of Portmore United battle in a Wray & Nephew Jamaica Premier League encounter at Stadium East on August 31. (Photo: Naphtali Junior)