DEFENDING champions Cavalier SC will try to avoid a third-straight defeat when they travel to Ferdie Neita Sports Complex to face Portmore United in their second-round Jamaica Premier League (JPL) match, set to kick off at 3:00 pm today.

Cavalier go into the contest on the back of consecutive losses for the third time this season, and risk slipping out of the top six if they fail to take all three points.

The remaining teams in the top six will also be anxious to hold their positions, with just seven points separating fifth place from 12th.

League leaders Montego Bay United (MBU) will be at home at Jarrett Park against Molynes United while second-placed Racing United take on bottom team Spanish Town Police FC. Fourth-placed Mount Pleasant FA travel to face Phoenix Chapelton Maroons while Tivoli Gardens are set to meet Harbour View.

Waterhouse FC will host Treasure Beach FC at Drewsland, and in Monday’s lone fixture Arnett Gardens FC welcome Dunbeholden FC to the Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex.

Cavalier have lost their last two matches by one-goal margins, including Thursday’s 1-0 defeat to Dunbeholden, a team they had beaten 5-1 just over a week earlier.

Today, the two-time champions in the last three seasons will be seeking revenge for their 4-2 first-round loss to Portmore, who have drawn their last three games.

Portmore have struggled for consistency, managing just one win in their last nine outings, but they will face a Cavalier defence that has conceded 22 goals in 18 matches.

MBU will aim to extend their unbeaten run since the start of 2026, having won five games and drawn one, and will be chasing a sixth-straight victory over Molynes.

MBU have outscored Molynes 15-1 during their current five-game winning run and have kept clean sheets in the last three meetings, and leading scorer Jourdain Fletcher, who has 11 goals, will be hoping to find the net for a third-consecutive match.

Racing will start as favourites against Spanish Town Police as they look to snap a run of three straight draws, having won the first-round meeting 3-0.

Tajay Grant and Nickyle Ellis have combined for 15 goals — nearly half of Racing’s 31 this season — and will look to test the league’s most porous defence over the full 90 minutes.

Spanish Town Police have won two matches this season and drew their most recent outing against Molynes.

Despite arguably having the deepest squad in the league, goals have dried up for Mount Pleasant who have managed just five goals in their last six games after scoring five against Spanish Town Police on December 21.

The St Ann-based Caribbean Club champions have won their last three encounters against Chapelton, who have lost their last two games and slipped to eighth in the standings.

Chapelton will need to improve their scoring output if they are to mount a sustained push for a play-off spot, having scored just 16 goals in 19 games — the second-lowest tally in the league.

The Clarendon-based club have failed to score in their last two matches and have managed only four goals in their last five outings.

Harbour View have appointed Lenworth Hyde as head coach — their third of the season — and will hope he can halt the slide after they conceded 15 goals in their last five matches.

They will be aiming to avenge their first-round loss to fifth-placed Tivoli, who are expected to be led by in form Nickalia Fuller following a three-game unbeaten run.

Only five teams have scored more goals than Harbour View’s 25, but they have conceded 35 — the second most in the league, behind Spanish Town Police’s 51.

Treasure Beach are unbeaten in three matches, have climbed out of the relegation zone, and will be seeking their first-ever victory over Waterhouse.

Two of Treasure Beach’s five wins have come in their last five outings, including a remarkable comeback from three goals down to beat Harbour View 4-3, and a 1-1 draw with Arnett Gardens after falling behind.

Waterhouse have lost just once in their last six matches and will be hoping home advantage proves decisive.

On Monday, Arnett Gardens — with just one win in their last five games — will be chasing a fourth-straight victory over Dunbeholden, who come into the contest on the back of consecutive wins.

With just two points separating the teams pushing for play-off places, a win on Monday could see either side break into the top six at the end of the round.