A better script could not have been written for today's Digicel Premier League climax: three teams in line to win the title; and just as many clamouring to be spared from the axe.

Kick-off time is 4 p.m. for all six fixtures, and the text gets even more intriguing as two of the matches involve clubs battling for the title, and to save relegation.

Portmore will journey east to Harbour View Mini Stadium to clash with the homesters, who also have a shot at the crown.

Village United are hosting Sporting Central Academy in a battle that is likely to plunge the losers towards the lower leagues.

'We have to win'

For Portmore United, the reigning champions and leaders on 71 points, the equation is straightforward. Three points and the title is won. Other permutations also take them to the title, a draw with Harbour View coupled with Tivoli Gardens either drawing or losing against Arnett, but they are only eyeing one goal.

"It is a game we have to win, there is no other result," coach Linval Dixon declared in a Gleaner interview after their 0-0 midweek draw with Tivoli Gardens. "Harbour View still have a chance to win it (title), likewise Tivoli."

In three matchups this season, Portmore beat Harbour View with a last-minute goal and the teams squared the other two games.

The way to the title for second-place Tivoli Gardens, on 69 points, and Harbour View, at third on 68, will depend on them producing a winning result.

'Hope for the best'

"We just have to win and hope for the best. That's it," noted Lenworth Hyde Sr, coach of Tivoli Gardens, which have lost twice and drawn once with Arnett in three premier league contests this season.

He added: "It's tough. From the inception we said we wanted to win the five games in the fourth round. Portmore stalled and we've to continue doing the same thing."

The west Kingston team will be without its dangerous frontline scoring combination, Roland Dean and Navion Boyd, due to suspensions, but Hyde is not worried.

"We've competent replacements so we've to create some chances and score some goals and hope for the best," he said. "We've to deal with the thing."

At the other end of the table ,Sporting Central Academy would, similarly, maths away their relegation worries with a draw or victory.

All that is based on the luxury they have created with marginal cushions in the points table.

Sporting Central Academy have 39 points, while Meadhaven United have 38 and Village United are on 37. Sporting could also remain in the league if they lose, providing that Reno either beat or draw with Meadhaven.

The youthful but talented Clarendon bunch, though, remain optimistic.

"We believe in our abilities and our record on the road is good, so there is no fear going down to play at Village," Sporting Central's general manager Brandon Murray said in an interview published yesterday in The Gleaner.

Sporting beat Village twice and lost once in head-to-head confrontations this season, and Murray added: "I'm not thinking about that (relegation) because it's not an option. Relegation for any team is bad, but for us it'd be catastrophic. I can say categorically that would be the end of us."

Village United will only save themselves from relegation by beating Sporting Central at Elliston Wakeland Centre in Falmouth.

"It's all about survival really and when we started out we were hoping for results from other people so that we could catch up," noted Cassman Williams, who has launched the Trelawny team on a winning trail since taking over the reins when they were deeply engulfed in the throes of relegation, firmly at the bottom of the standings.

One last twist

He added: "We've basically reached the stage where all we need now is to win the last one and remain in the competition."

Yet, there is one last twist as two teams without a chance of significantly enhancing their status may have the biggest say.

Arnett Gardens had long expressed a desire to place third, which even with another victory over Tivoli is out of their reach. However, player/coach Fabian Davis still wants the points.

"Tivoli have been doing well, they have some pretty talented players," Davis admitted. "But, at the end of the day it's another working day and we're going for those three points. That's basically it."

Reno have already been relegated. But with only one western Jamaica team halfway-in, halfway-out of the league, helping to maintain even that tradition and pride appears destined to inspire an all-out effort against Meadhaven.

'Most disappointing'

Following the 1-0 loss at Village that condemned them to relegation, Reno's technical director Wendell Downswell said: "It is most disappointing that we will not be in the league, but come Sunday we will be aiming to put in a good performance against Meadhaven."

Five rounds ago, Portmore looked to have wrapped up the title, as they held an eight-point lead, while Village looked certain for relegation because they were entrenched at the bottom of the standings, four below the nearest challenger.

Such trends, if they continue, would only embellish the script for a real fairytale ending should one flop and the other escape the axe in this afternoon's climax.

TODAY'S GAMES