MOUNT Pleasant FA and Portmore United, separated by two points in third and fourth, meet in the second round of the Jamaica Premier League at Drax Hall tonight at 7:00 p.m.

With the second round closing, teams in the top half push for top six play-off spots while those in the lower half fight to avoid relegation. A 10-point gap separates the top four from the rest, three points divide sixth and 10th, with five more separating the bottom four.

Racing United chase back-to-back wins over seventh-placed Cavalier SC. Leaders Montego Bay United (MBU) face Arnett Gardens, and Chapelton Maroons aim to hold their top six spot.

Mount Pleasant and Portmore each have a game in hand. Mount Pleasant have won four of the last six meetings, while Portmore are unbeaten in 10. Mount Pleasant scored four goals in two of their last three matches, with Raheem Edwards adding two midweek to reach 11 goals, leading alongside Daniel Green and Shaqueil Bradford.

Portmore have scored 31 and conceded 16, despite no player with more than three goals. They seek revenge for a first-round loss to Mount Pleasant.

Cavalier have two wins in their last 10 and must avoid dropped points. Racing have lost once, drawn 12 times, and remain unbeaten since a 3-1 defeat away to MBU in mid-October. Tajay Grant and Nickyle Ellis combine for 19 goals.

MBU host Arnett at Jarrett Park for the first time in over a decade, trying to end a two-game slide, including Monday’s 2-1 loss to Spanish Town Police. Arnett, who beat MBU in last season’s third-place play-off, have lost Coach Xavier Gilbert and key players to MBU. Kimani Arbouine misses today after a red card in Sunday’s 2-2 draw at Harbour View.

MBU have nine goals and three conceded in their last five games. Arnett depend on Fabian Reid, with nine goals, who may be shadowed by former teammate Philando Wing of MBU.

Chapelton lost to Racing and are without goalkeeper Juan Lopez Ramirez, sent off in the 66th minute. They host Dunbeholden, winners over Treasure Beach for their first win in six matches.

Elsewhere, 12th-placed Treasure Beach meet 10th-placed Tivoli Gardens. Treasure Beach seek their first win over Tivoli after a 0-0 first-round draw.

Today’s games

MBU vs Arnett – Jarrett Park 3:30 pm

Chapelton vs Dunbeholden – Turner’s Oval 3:30 pm

Treasure Beach vs Tivoli – STETHS Sports Complex 3:30 pm

Racing vs Cavalier – Ferdie Neita Sports Complex 3:30 pm

Mount Pleasant vs Portmore – Drax Hall 7:00 pm

Monday’s games

Molynes United vs Harbour View – Waterhouse Stadium 5:00 pm

Waterhouse vs Spanish Town Police – Waterhouse Stadium 7:30 pm