Ainsley Walters, STAR Writer

Left: Waterhouse striker Kevin Lamey, Right: Harbour View's Jermaine Hue - file photos

LEADERS Harbour View are within three points of early qualification for the first-round final of the Digicel Premier League but face a tough away game at Waterhouse tomorrow evening, starting at 4.

Harbour View are on 20 points, two clear of second-place Boys' Town and five ahead of third-place Tivoli with two games remaining.

A win for Harbour View would ensure no other team apart from Boys' Town would be able to keep them out of the bonus final, even if they lose their final game of the round and get stuck on 23.

Boys' Town to seal spot

Boys' Town are also looking to seal their spot when they travel to champions Portmore. However, they are being stalked by third-place Tivoli, who are on 15, in addition to St Georges and Portmore, who are both on 13 with fighting chances of stealing through the back door.

Tivoli are also on the road, travelling to Sporting Central with a poor away record on their backs.

However, a win for Tivoli at Sporting Central and a Boys' Town loss at Portmore, not to mention a likely St Georges home victory against Reno, would set up a thrilling finish for the final match with four teams going down to the wire.

Harbour View could be licking their chops for a shot at Waterhouse, who have conceded eight goals in their last three games, prompting one of their most successful coaches ever, Wayne Fairclough, to beat a hasty retreat from his post at Drewsland after a 3-0 whipping at Boys' Town two Sundays ago.

'Bingi' Blair in charge

Former player Hugh 'Bingi' Blair will be the man in charge at Waterhouse, awaiting Harbour View, who will be boosted by the return of midfielder Jermaine Hue and left-back Lance Laing from national duties.

Going to work hard

"We're looking to amend the defensive third of the field," Blair, a celebrated Waterhouse and former national player, told STAR Sports.

"We're going out there to work hard, no tactical or personnel changes, it's the same players," he said when asked what changes he had in store to correct Waterhouse's leaking defence.

However, Waterhouse are unbeaten at home this season and Harbour View should not get too comfortable at Drewsland with the possibility of Jermaine 'Tuffy' Anderson returning from national duties in Cayman to join the 'Drewsland Hitman', Kevin Lamey, in attack.

Harbour View's only blemish this season was a 0-1 home loss against Arnett Gardens, a match decided on a penalty kick, making the leaders favourites to spoil Waterhouse's home record.

Should be a cracker

Boy's Town at Portmore should be a cracker with the hot Denzil Watson facing his former teammates at Ferdie Neita Park.

Champions Portmore have failed to spark early this season but is never a side to write off and despite being fifth in the standings, two matches, in football world, could change an entire season.

However, despite losing just one match so far, Boys' Town are yet to win on the road. Portmore, fifth on goal difference on 13 points, might not be eyeing the first-round final but will be aiming to claw their way back up the standings, making them as dangerous as ever with the likes of goal-poacher Carlington Smith being the man to keep an eye on.

Boys' Town packs a strong squad with Watson, Michael Campbell, George Vernal and Renae Lloyd being class players in and around the box.

Tivoli, the team with the best home record needs to turn around their form on the road at Sporting Central to keep Boys Town honest for a spot in the first round final.

Tivoli have the second-worst away record in the league and faces a tough opponent, Sporting Central, whose sprawling Brancourt field could nullify their game, which centres around Navion Boyd operating off the right flank.

Sporting are tough at home, winning and losing two games while scoring six, as many as they have conceded.

Elsewhere, St Georges must start favourites to beat Reno at Lynch Park, Village can't be discounted at Arnett gardens and Meadhaven at home get the nod over fellow promoted team Rivoli in their battle at the foot of the standings.

Games on

Sporting Central vs Tivoli at 3

St Georges vs Reno at 3

Meadhaven vs Rivoli at 3

W' house vs Harbour View at 4

Arnett vs Village at 5

Portmore vs Boys' Town at 7