Portmore's Alanzo Adlam and Tivoli's Navion Boyd fly into a challenge. - Ricardo Makyn

After finishing a disappointing sixth last season, Portmore United have found themselves in more familiar territory as they lie second in the National Premier League's 12-team standing, by virtue of an inferior goal difference to leaders Tivoli Gardens with both teams having amassed 11 points from five games. This equation will change by the end of the day, however, as the teams will clash today in this round's feature game when they meet at the Edward Seaga Complex for a 5 p.m. kick-off.

Portmore should have no reservations about travelling to the home of the champions; a venue where they were last defeated three seasons ago on April 12, 2009. Incidentally, that match was also the last time that Tivoli have secured a victory against the St Catherine-based team; having drawn six subsequent matches and losing two.

Portmore are coming off a 2-1 win against the promoted Montego Bay United, a game they ended with ten players. The win was Portmore's third of the season to go with two draws; scoring six goals while conceding three.

"The players are very upbeat right now, as they know that they always have a good game at Tivoli," Portmore's head coach Calvin Lewis said.

"The win on Sunday, playing with ten (men), really serves as an inspiration for the players going into this game," he added.

Lewis is looking to the likes of captain Adrian Reid, Eric Vernon and Adoah Nickle to lead the team to victory, but will be satisfied with a point.

"I have told the players that if we want to be champions we have to win big games," he added.

Tivoli also played with ten players for the last 30 minutes in their 1-0 away win over Harbour View on Sunday and assistant coach Alvin Shaw believes that attests to the team's confidence level.

"What we are focusing on is how the team is performing presently and not our record in the past and presently we are physically ready and mentally ready for just about any challenge," Shaw expressed.

"We prepare for each game individually and the focus now is Portmore," he added.

Shaw expects his centre forward pairing of the league's top scorer Mitchily Waul (four) and national striker Navion Boyd to produce the goods. He, however, has the luxury of Devon Hodges to call on if necessary.