LEADERS Montego Bay United (MBU) will try to make up for their first-round loss to defending champions Cavalier SC when they meet in the Jamaica Premier League at Jarrett Park today at 3:30 pm.

Cavalier handed MBU their biggest defeat of the season, a 3-0 win at Stadium East on December 8, the first round of games after the league resumed following Hurricane Melissa in late October.

Since then, the teams have moved in different directions. MBU have won seven of their last 12 matches and drawn three. Cavalier have won four and lost seven and sit seventh on 29 points, 17 behind MBU’s 46.

The top four — Racing United (39), Portmore United (39) and Mount Pleasant FA (38) — could widen the gap on the chasing pack with wins this weekend.

Racing travel to Molynes United, Portmore face Arnett Gardens on Monday night, and Mount Pleasant host Dunbeholden FC.

After losing their first two games at Jarrett Park, MBU are unbeaten in their last four there. They face a Cavalier team with one win in their last five matches.

Cavalier are coming off a 5-0 win over bottom-placed Spanish Town Police FC (STP), all five goals coming in the second half. They also beat Dunbeholden 5-0 in their previous win. Between those results, they lost four consecutive matches and were outscored 5-1.

MBU will be without top scorer Jourdain Fletcher, who has signed with Hai Phòng FC in Vietnam. They will look to Dwight Merrick, who has nine goals, along with Owayne Gordon and Brian Brown, to lead the attack.

Matches between Racing and Molynes are usually close. Racing won their first-round meeting 3-2 and will look to make it two straight.

Molynes have one win in their last nine games. They will need Nicholas Nelson to find the form he showed after joining from Dunbeholden in January, when he scored four goals in his first two matches.

Racing are unbeaten in 14 games, though nine have ended in draws. Coach Anthony Patrick will want Tajay Grant and Nickyle Ellis, who have scored 19 of the team’s 35 goals, to deliver again.

After back-to-back 0-0 draws with Treasure Beach FC, Mount Pleasant face Dunbeholden who also held them 0-0 in the first round.

Mount Pleasant have not matched last season’s scoring form but remain among the favourites to advance to the semi-finals, at the very least. Coach Theodore Whitmore will look to Raheem Edwards, Warner Brown and Daniel Green to sharpen up in front of goal.

Dunbeholden started the season well defensively but have conceded 13 goals in their last seven games, after allowing just eight in their first 15.

Sixth-placed Waterhouse FC have won four straight, their best run this season, but face a Tivoli Gardens FC side that has won the last three meetings between the teams.

Tivoli have one win from their last seven matches and are ninth in the standings. They have scored just two goals in their last three games and lost to Arnett Gardens in their most recent outing.

Treasure Beach gained confidence after holding Mount Pleasant scoreless over two matches in three days. They now meet Phoenix Chapelton Maroons, who edged Molynes in their last game.

Chapelton will be without Robino Gordon, who was sent off late in that match. It was the second straight time they were ending a game with 10 players.

Former champions Harbour View FC and STP, both in the relegation zone, meet at Royal Lakes. Both need the points.

Harbour View, on 16 points, have not won since beating STP 5-2 on December 7. STP beat Dunbeholden two weeks ago.