WESTERN BUREAU -
THE race for the four semi-final places in the National A-League heats up this afternoon.
All six games will start at 3:00 p.m.
Seven teams are in with a realistic chance of making it to the semi-finals but with six rounds of matches to go after today, they will have to start separating themselves from the pack.
The top two teams - Village United (40 points) and Galaxy (38) - and should book their spots soon while another five teams are split by just five points.
Village and Galaxy will be at home today and should repeat first-round wins but the other games are up for grabs and the results could see a change in positions.
Village are coming off their first loss of the season, to Black Stars, but are expected to rebound against Maverley/Hughenden who they had clipped 1-0 in the first round while Galaxy, winners of their past three, should find the going comfortable against last placed St. Georges.
The game at Clarendon Park should see more than the six goals scored in the first round as it will see the league's best offence, Galaxy with 40 goals, against the league's worst defence, St. Georges with 41 goals allowed.
Despite their easy 4-1 win in the first round, third placed Duhaney Park should not expect a walkover when they travel to Drax Hall to face a Brazil team which has played just once since mid-December because of back-to-back postponements.
The Brazil team should be well rested and will be going after its first win of the return round.
Fourth placed Black Stars have been able to get over their off-the-field problems to register three wins, including back-to-back wins over leaders Village United and Violet Kickers at home. They will however be on the road at Prison Oval, hoping to repeat a close first-round win over Central Link.
They must be mindful of Central Link's form at home where they have claimed five of their eight wins and are also coming off a 6-1 hammering of the Jamaica Defence Force.
Montego Bay's Violet Kickers are coming off a 2-0 loss to Black Stars, their first loss in six rounds, but should be wary of taking Mile Gully too lightly despite their poor position in the standings.
Mile Gully have struggled all season, winning only twice but both victories came at home at the start of the round. Since then they have reverted to their early season form, losing their past four on the trot.
A win for the Montego Bay team could see them return to the top four, depending on the other results and they will be seeking to improve on the 2-2 draw between the teams in the first round.
Rivoli should be favoured against Rockfort on the strength of their first-round 3-0 win, despite playing away as they seek to maintain their slim hopes of crashing the last four.
TODAY'S GAMES
Central Link vs Black Stars at Prison Oval
Mile Gully vs Violet Kickers at Mile Gully Community Centre
Rockfort vs Rivoli at Rennock Lodge
Village United vs Maverley at Elleston Wakeland
Brazil vs Duhaney Park at Drax Hall
Galaxy vs St. Georges at Clarendon Park
