Nelson ... has scored in three consecutive games.

RIVOLI have never beaten champions Portmore United and coach Linval Dixon is looking to top marksman Roen Nelson for a fifth straight Digicel Premier League win, which would put them level on 31 points with second-place Boys' Town.

The St Catherine teams meet tomorrow at the Spanish Town Prison Oval at 4 p.m. with Portmore aiming to catch leaders Harbour View out front on 33 points and promoted Rivoli on 14 looking to leapfrog seventh-place Arnett Gardens on 15.

Steady scorer

Since returning to the local Premiership from Trinidad and Tobago's semi-pro league, Nelson has scored in three consecutive games, tallying four goals including Sunday's match-turning effort, an 89th minute goal against Reno, before Ricardo Cousins snatched a win for the champs in stoppage time.

Last season, Nelson returned from Trinidad to create havoc in the third round of the Premiership, snatching the leading goalscorer title with 16 strikes to lead Portmore to the league title.

His return has been nothing short of spectacular in three games, scoring the lone goal against Arnett, a double to nip Village 2-1 and Sunday's lifeline at Reno.

Dixon, however, is wary of Rivoli, who drew 1-1 with league leaders Harbour View Sunday and blanked Sporting Central 2-0 in Clarendon the previous week.

"We believe they're dangerous," Dixon said yesterday. "It's the St Catherine derby when we play Rivoli and we're always out for a cracker. We beat them, but we can't take anything for granted. It will be tough at the Prison Oval but we're getting ourselves ready," he added.

Nelson, Dixon said, will be a big part of Portmore's plans.

"The players are excited that he's back. He's a good player with the ability to score on any given day," he said.

"It's really a big plus for him to come back. He returned in the third round last year and got leading scorer. Imagine if he was there from the start?

"He's a motivation. Of course we're looking at other attacking players but, so far, we're doing well and happy we're with that. We're hoping Wednesday we can pull off another victory."

Dixon and Portmore will come face-to-face with another in-form but less heralded striker, Rivoli's Devon Hodges, who has stuck with the Spanish Town side through thick and thin, winning relegation years ago, suffering demotion and back in the top flight with the Prison Oval men.

Hodges has been on fire this season, leading the league with 10 goals, three in Rivoli's last two games.

Coach's praises

Coach Bradley Stewart sang his striker's praises after holding Harbour View to a 1-1 draw Sunday and the forward will want to please the Spanish Town crowd tomorrow.

Rivoli have only lost once at home this season and with their side hitting form Spanish Town will be out in force to support the homesters.

Portmore, on paper, are stronger with the likes of Nelson, Eric Vernan, Cousins and the hard-tackling midfielder Damian Williams.

However, Rivoli are hyped and should not be discounted with the Planter brothers, Derrick and Barrington, strongman Omar Parker in defence and Mark Newsome wanting to prove his worth alongside Hodges in attack.

Rivoli's Devon Hodges (left), Portmore's Roen Nelson - File photos