LEADERS Montego Bay United (MBU) have begun to strengthen their squad for a run at back-to-back semi-finals in the Jamaica Premier League (JPL) and are hoping to have the first wave of new additions available for today’s game against third-placed Portmore United at Jarrett Park at 3:00 pm.

Also today, second-placed Racing United will face Dunbeholden at the Ferdie Neita Sports Complex at 5:30 pm after Phoenix Chapelton Maroons take on Spanish Town Police at 3:00 pm.

In Montego Bay, the home team will hope to avenge their first-round loss to Portmore. Former Arnett Gardens winger Kimani Arbourine and Falmouth United midfielder Tajay Cooper could be in the squad after both were involved in a training session at Jarrett Park on Saturday morning.

The former champions are hoping to replenish a squad that lost a number of players, including three Trinidad and Tobago nationals, and Head Coach Xavier Gilbert said the plan was to ensure there was competition for places in the starting team.

“We would have picked up some additions — Tajay [Cooper], Kimani,” he said yesterday. “We are still awaiting international clearance for a few more players and we are just waiting for those to be confirmed before we can say anything else.”

Gilbert did say, however, that they were seeking to get additions “in every department”, but admitted there was an emphasis on the backline, which remains a concern.

MBU are coming off back-to-back 1-0 wins, at home to Dunbeholden on Sunday and away to Tivoli Gardens on Thursday, with veteran Owayne Gordon scoring in both games after coming off the bench.

Today they will be without attacking players Jourdain Fletcher and Dwight Merrick, both on national duty in Grenada, and Gordon could earn a start alongside Brian Brown, with Deonjay Brown and Jahmari Clarke also available.

Portmore ended a five-game winless run with a 4-0 hammering of Spanish Town Police on Thursday and will be confident of their chances again today.

Portmore have conceded just two goals in their last four games and, after scoring a double on Thursday, Clayton Peck will be on the hunt for more goals.

Racing are also coming off a four-star performance after beating 10-man Treasure Beach 4-1 on Wednesday and will seek to atone for their 0-0 draw against Dunbeholden and extend their unbeaten run against their fellow St Catherine club.

Despite a 14-point gap between the two teams, it is not expected to be a walkover for Racing, as they are facing the best defence in the competition so far, having allowed just seven goals in 14 games.

Dunbeholden’s dominance at the back has not been replicated at the attacking end; however, with the team scoring only 10 goals, joint lowest with Spanish Town Police, and if they are to get the better of Racing, they must find goals today.

Chapelton could be in fourth place after today’s round of games if they can get the better of Spanish Town, after the teams played out a 0-0 draw in the first round.

Ten of Chapelton’s 22 points have come in their last four games, including a 3-0 win over Arnett Gardens, and confidence will be high as they take on a Spanish Town team that has conceded 44 goals so far.