By Audley Boyd, Staff Reporter 
Chin-Sue
TIVOLI Gardens and Waterhouse face a tall order as they battle top contenders to keep semi-final hopes alive in the Wray & Nephew National Premier League this afternoon.
With a host of uncertainties through injury, Tivoli Gardens make the short hop to Arnett Gardens for a 3:30p.m. contest against the back-to-back champions who seem certain to claim one of two outstanding semi-final spots.
Hazard United (66 points) and Harbour View (56) have already qualified and Arnett Gardens, on 52, have nine more than Tivoli and Waterhouse who are tied on 43.
The leading contender for the next spot, fourth place Village United on 48 points, have what appear an easier task in hosting seventh place Seba United at Elletson Wakeland Community Centre in Falmouth.
With four rounds to play, including today's fixture, the pressure therefore is extremely huge on those lingering just outside the top four to win.
ONLY CHANCE
"We have to win today. That's our only chance of going through," said Brian Rose, Tivoli's manager.
"Arnett will not want to sit back and wait until the last game to qualify. They'll want to qualify as early as possible. It's going to be a crucial game," he added.
The west Kingston team will be forced to dig deeper with midfield force Steve Green, out serving a five-match ban, and top strike duo Roland Dean and Christopher Nicholas bothered by injuries.
Rose said, Under-21 striker Rafeik Thomas should assume scoring duties and much will rest on his ability to convert, as well as that of Andrew Chisholm. Defensive strongman Marco McDonald should return.
Arnett Gardens will also miss key striker, Kevin Wilson, who picked up a red card in last Thursday's rescheduled game against Reno.
However, they have a batch of known goalscorers in Walter Boyd, Fabian Davis and Kwame Richardson who returned last week after a long injury break. National midfielders Cornel Chin-Sue and Jonathan Williams are other good scoring options for the defending champs who are looking to seal qualification.
"Against Tivoli in our backyard we're looking to get maximum points to secure our semi-final berth," said Jerome Waite, Arnett Gardens' coach.
Waterhouse will travel to Ferdie Neita Park to face Hazard United, but even though the Lenworth Hyde-coached team have already qualified, they are in no mood to grant any favours as they seek to also secure a half-million bounty.
"It's $500,000 for finishing with the most points. We want to secure that so we need to win our next two matches," commented coach Hyde on the bonus money to be earned by the team that completes the preliminary competition with the highest number of points.
Waterhouse, who have had a series of bitter battles with Hazard, have faced this must-win situation with their Spanish Town-based Clarendon rivals before and won away from home.
As they brace for this afternoon's well-defined task, their coach, Calvert Fitzgerald said:
"If we're going to make it to the semis we definitely have to beat Hazard. It's going to be the day of decision. If we win and Village draw then we're right in the hunt," calculated Fitzgerald whose team won 1-0 at Seba on an Irvino English goal Sunday.
IRONY
Ironically, Waterhouse's hopes are now pinned on the team they beat just three days ago.
Village, however, are wary and looking to change offensive tactics to keep the five-point advantage they hold.
"The Hazard-Waterhouse, Arnett Gardens-Tivoli games will be key. That will decide the fate of both teams," observed Geoffrey Maxwell, Village's coach.
"In Wednesday's game we've to try for a win to try to secure a more stable position in the top four. It's our home game and it's very critical for us not to lose. We're hoping to play a far more attacking game to ensure the full points," stated Maxwell.
The other three games on today's schedule - Bull Bay vs Constant Spring, Reno vs Harbour View and Wadadah vs Rivoli - have no bearing on the semi-finals. Wadadah are relegated, Bull Bay are set to follow and the rest, apart from the already qualified Harbour View, cannot make the top four.
