Second place in the points table of the Jamaica Premier League will be at stake today when second-placed Racing United, on 34 points, host third-placed Portmore United, on 32 points, at the Ferdie Neita Sports Complex. Kick-off is set for 3:00pm.

The top six teams will have opportunities to separate themselves from the rest of the field in today’s 20th round of matches. Leaders Montego Bay United (MBU) will host Phoenix Chapelton Maroons, fourth-placed Mount Pleasant FA take on Waterhouse FC at Drax Hall, and defending champions Cavalier SC will face Tivoli Gardens in the second game of a double-header at Stadium East.

There should be no expectation of a high-scoring game at Ferdie Neita, as Racing and Portmore have combined for 18 drawn matches this season, including their first-round meeting, which was the third consecutive game between the two to end in a tie.

The teams have identical records over their last five games — two wins, two draws, and one loss — but Racing have lost just once all season and will hope they can use home advantage to their benefit today.

MBU are coming off their biggest win of the season after hammering Spanish Town Police FC 5-0 and will be going after a fifth straight victory over sixth-placed Chapelton, who were beaten 1-0 at home by Waterhouse.

Jourdain Fletcher, who regained the lead in the goal-scoring race with a double against Spanish Town Police on Wednesday, will hope to continue his scoring run.

Jahmari Clarke, who also scored on Wednesday to end a long drought after netting in his first three games of the season, will also be goal hunting against a Chapelton team that has never beaten MBU.

Mount Pleasant barely broke a sweat in their 1-0 win over Arnett Gardens on Thursday and will face a Waterhouse team coming off a similar 1-0 victory, but one that had endured a five-game winless run prior to that result.

Waterhouse have not beaten Mount Pleasant since the 2022-23 season. Although seven of their last eight meetings have been closely contested, the home team is expected to dominate today.

Mount Pleasant boast an almost airtight defence, conceding just eight goals in 14 games and a miserly two over their last nine outings.

While the St Ann-based club have not been the attacking juggernaut they were in previous seasons, scoring just 24 goals, the likes of Raheem Chambers, Daniel Green and last season’s leading scorer Warner Brown are more than capable of delivering when needed.

Defending champions Cavalier spanked the previously defensively sound Dunbeholden 5-1 on Wednesday, just shy of the eight goals Dunbeholden had conceded in their previous 15 games, and will have Tivoli in their sights today.

Recent form between the two teams would mitigate against another goal fest, however, as four of the last five meetings ended in draws.

Arnett Gardens, starting the round in eighth place, could return to the top six with a win but will face a Treasure Beach team high on confidence after rallying from three goals down at half-time to beat Harbour View 4-3 on Thursday.

Treasure Beach also edged Arnett Gardens 1-0 at home in the first round, and another win today would see them move further away from the relegation zone.

Nicholas Nelson has scored four goals in two games since returning to Molynes United — more than the three he scored for Dunbeholden in 14 games — and will be on the hunt for more goals today against last-placed Spanish Town Police.

Molynes were held 2-2 in the first round but will be going after a fifth win today, which could see them move up the table as high as seventh place.

Harbour View have won their last three matches against Dunbeholden, one of the few teams they have enjoyed sustained success against in recent seasons, and will need another win today after Thursday’s meltdown at home.

Dunbeholden are on a downward spiral, having surrendered leads in two straight games, settled for draws in both, before being outclassed by Cavalier.

Sunday’s games

•Racing United vs Portmore United – Ferdie Neita 3:00pm

•Dunbeholden FC vs Harbour View FC – Dunbeholden 3:00pm

•Treasure Beach FC vs Arnett Gardens – STETHS Complex 3:00pm

•Montego Bay United vs Phoenix Chapelton Maroons – Jarrett Park 3:00pm

•Mount Pleasant FA vs Waterhouse FC – Drax Hall 3:00pm

•Molynes United vs Spanish Town Police – Stadium East 3:00pm

•Cavalier SC vs Tivoli Gardens FC – Stadium East 5:30pm