BOYS' TOWN and Tivoli Gardens meet in a high-profile Digicel Premier League encounter at Collie Smith Drive that could decide which team plays already qualified Harbour View in the end-of-first-round final.

Though the neighbours hold the best position tied second on 18 points, they are facing competition from Portmore United and St Georges Sports Club, who are next in the standings on 16 and would stand a chance of sneaking through if the Collie Smith contest ends in a draw, and either win by a margin substantial enough to create a superior goal difference.

Boys' Town and Tivoli have a goal difference of plus six, but Boys' Town's 15 goals - three more than Tivoli - gives them an advantage. Portmore's goal difference is plus five and St Georges' is plus four.

Given the effects a result in Kingston may have on a game in Montego Bay in this last set of first-round fixtures, all kick-offs are at 3 p.m.

Tough challenge

Defending champions Portmore, who broke a suffocating spell of going winless and losing twice in four matches by beating Boys' Town 1-0 midweek, face the tougher challenge at their home field against Harbour View, who lead the 12-team league with 23 points.

But while Village's incon-sistencies account for them holding up eighth on 12 points, they have been accumulating well as hosts and should pose some serious problems for Geoffrey Maxwell's steadily improving St Georges, who followed up a barrage of draws with back-to-back victories.

Additionally, the latter will travel some distance from Buff Bay in Portland to tackle Trelawny's Village United at Jarrett Park in Montego Bay, hopeful the effects will not take toll on their chances.

Boys' Town and Tivoli have no intention of letting any other team in though as both are keen to grab all three points and a place in the final.

"It's a good opportunity to play the last game that gives you an opportunity to be in the end-of-round final at home," said Andrew Price, the one-time Boys' Town captain turned technical director. "It doesn't take a lot to motivate my team to play against Tivoli."

Deep-rooted feelings

According to Price, "There's been a strong rivalry between the two teams and they are of the knowledge that if we win we are going to make the final. It would be the first end-of-round final that we'd be participating in since returning to the league."

His opposite number, Lenworth Hyde Sr, also has deep-rooted feelings for Boys' Town, as well as Tivoli. As a midfield general, he won the Premier League title with both clubs, and twice at Boys' Town.

"It's good to see that in your career, in what you love, you show your class from a player to a coach and you show your love for the game," said Hyde."It's good to deal with the young players and tell them about your time and tell them what it is to play with a Boys' Town team and what it is to play for a Tivoli team. There's not much diffference, but it's good to know you can impart that knowledge and share those experiences, the memories."

Today, however, Hyde's only good wish to Boys' Town is their contribution to a high-quality contest because he wants his Tivoli team to grab all three points, more than anything else, to keep pace with Harbour View in the long trek to the championship.

TODAY"S GAMES