Ainsley Walters, STAR Writer

A THRILLING showdown is expected at Collie Smith Drive tomorrow afternoon, starting at 3:00, when Boys' Town and Tivoli Gardens square off to join Harbour View in the first-round final of the Digicel Premier League.

The west Kingston clash will be the most followed match of the fixture, as the third-place team, on goal difference, St Georges, who share 16 points with champions Portmore United, would have to beat homesters Village by three clear goals to sneak into the final, should Boys' Town and Tivoli draw.

Boys' Town have only themselves to blame for not clinching early qualification alongside Harbour View on Wednesday, beaten 1-0 by champions Portmore United, allowing Tivoli to pull level on 18 points after their 3-0 win over Sporting Central.

good home record

However, coach Andrew Price was bubbling with confidence yesterday, talking about his team's home record, which has one blemish, a 1-0 loss against leaders Harbour View.

With Tivoli's away record shaky, despite Sunday's big win at Sporting Central, Price reckons Boys' Town should have their neighbours' tickets.

"Our aim at home is to get three points," he said. "We have a very good home record and I don't see any reason why that should change. We've won all our games at home, except against Harbour View.

"The onus is on Tivoli to come for a victory. We have a better goal difference," Price added, factoring a possible draw, which would suit Boys' Town, who share a plus-six goal difference with Tivoli but have scored three more goals than their rivals.

However, Tivoli is a big-occasion club, fiercely proud and fearless, more so playing close to home, a mere hop skip, and jump across Spanish Town Road.

Coach Lenny Hyde was also confident but expects a tough game.

"We did it in the last game, win on the road, but it's a different kettle of fish, playing Boys' Town, a top team" he said.

"We expect a tough game but we're confident. We need to get three points to stay close to the leaders. We just have to go out there and play some good football and get a result," Hyde added.

missing wing-back

Tivoli will be missing wing-back Owen Gordon and defensive midfielder Denroy Gordon, both out on cards.

However, Hyde named Dwight Heron and Dwayne Ford as possible replacements.

"We've a quality team and are confident we'll perform well," he said, acknowledging that defence could very well win tomorrow's match.

"Defence wins championships," he said. "It's good we didn't give up any goal on Wednesday, we just have to try and keep a clean sheet."

Tivoli's attack will be a potent one, matching the Boys' Town scoring machinery, led by Denzil Watson with six goals.

Roland Dean netted his league-leading seventh goal of the season on Sunday for Tivoli and will be joined in attack by the pacey Navion Boyd operating off the right flank.

Boys' Town's arsenal is just as potent with Watson, Michael Campbell and George Vernal capable of destroying any defence in the league.

"We have the firepower upfront," said Price, naming Watson, Peter Keyes, Vernal and the veteran Oneil McDonald as options "to trouble Tivoli's defensive unit".

In other games, leaders Harbour View hope to extend their five-point lead but face dangerous Portmore at Ferdie Neita Park, the wounded champions badly needing to claw their way back into title contention.

Elsewhere, sixth-place Reno travel to face next-to-last Meadhaven at Constant Spring after their 1-2 road loss at St. Georges on Wednesday. Meadhaven moved from the foot of the standings on Wednesday with a 4-3 home win and will be inspired to stay in winners' row.

Slumping seventh-place Water-house are also on the road, travelling to 10th-place Sporting Central with a leaky defence whereas ninth-place Arnett Gardens are at last-place Rivoli, hoping to notch their first win in three games.

Games on

•Portmore vs Harbour View at Ferdie Neita Park.

• Meadhaven vs Reno at Constant Spring.

• Sporting Central vs Waterhouse at Brancourt.

• Rivoli vs Arnett at Spanish Town Prison Oval. All matches kick off at 3 p.m.