Kevin Lamey of Waterhouse.

AS the crucial third round of the Digicel Premier League enters the home stretch, four matches to the fourth and final round, leaders Portmore United and second-place Harbour View - with just two points separating them - face dangerous Waterhouse and Tivoli Gardens, respectively.

After being locked with the Stars of the East for six straight games, defending champions Portmore blanked St Georges 2-0 two Sundays ago to inch away, benefiting from their rivals' 0-0 home draw against Arnett.

However, the champions are away against tough Waterhouse, who are precariously perched in fifth spot on 41 points, four ahead of seventh-place Tivoli on 37 and two ahead of sixth-place St Georges on 39.

Whereas Portmore's focus will be on extending their lead over Harbour View, Waterhouse, 19 off the leaders, have survival on their minds, fighting to avoid a drop among the lower-six teams, where they would be condemned to play out the fourth round alongside teams battling to avoid relegation.

Waterhouse's dilemma will certainly keep Portmore honest, not to mention their first-round game at Drewsland, which ended in a thrilling 3-3 tie, a match in which the champions led on three occasions.

Their second-round clash at Ferdie Neita Park ended in a draw, which neither team wants a repeat of tonight.

20th-minute goal

Waterhouse suffered a defeat in midweek, going down 1-0 to Tivoli Gardens in the Flow Champions Cup semi-final.

Despite conceding a 20th-minute goal against Tivoli, Waterhouse piled on pressure for the entire match, a huge warning for Portmore venturing into Drewsland.

Waterhouse's main problem has been defence all season, letting in 32 goals, more than the two teams immediately below them, St Georges and Arnett, 28 and 25, respectively.

However, they have not been short on scoring, 36 goals, just two less than Tivoli, who are eight points ahead of them in fourth place.

Kevin Lamey and Jermaine Anderson were both substituted by coach Paul Young, hunting an equaliser with fresh legs against Tivoli on Wednesday. However, the former Portmore coach will have both his leading scorers back in the line-up for what should be a torrid clash.

Unlike Waterhouse, Portmore's defence is rock solid, led by Grenadian Anthony Modeste. However, Lamey's guile and Anderson's power, fed by midfielder Kenardo Forbes, playing close to his Naggo Head hometown, are not to be taken lightly by the champions.

Harbour View-Tivoli

Harbour View chose the wrong match in which to stumble as their 0-0 draw with Arnett marked the departure of Brazilian coach Waldemar De Oliveira and striker Kavin Bryan, who is on loan in Norway, replacing injured former teammate Fabian Taylor.

Stinging goals

However, Rafeik Thomas and Marcellino Blackburn are as dangerous as strikers come and any foul-up in Tivoli's defence will be met with stinging goals.

Tivoli defended well against Waterhouse on Sunday in the Champions Cup semi-final and will be burning to turn the tables on the Stars of the East, who beat them 1-0 in the first round.

Navion Boyd is Tivoli's chief playmaker alongside Roland Dean, whose coolness belies his lethal form in front goal.

It should be a classic match-up with Harbour View gunning to reel in Portmore and Tivoli, on 59 points, out to get past third-place Boys' Town, who lead them by a point.

Boys' Town are away at ninth-place Sporting Central, a match-up which they should win on current form.

Sixth-place St Georges, 39, the target of seventh-place Arnett, 37, face a tricky away match at Rivoli, who are on 31 points and must fancy themselves a shot at climbing out of the bottom six.

Arnett are away at 10th-place Meadhaven, not exactly a walk in the park for the Junglists, whereas Reno and Village clash at Frome in a battle of the cellar-dwellers.

Portmore's Anthony Modeste. - file photos

Games On

Harbour View vs Tivoli at 7 p.m.

Waterhouse vs Portmore at 6 p.m.

Rivoli vs St Georges at 4 p.m.

Sporting Central vs Boys' Town at 3:30 p.m.

Meadhaven vs Arnett at 3:30 p.m.

Reno vs Village at 3:30 p.m.