St Georges Sports Club will qualify for the Digicel Premier League's End-of-Round final for the first round by beating Village United in their last round-one fixture on their home turf at Lynch Park, Buff Bay, this afternoon at 3 p.m.

The Portland team, on 21, holds pole position in a two-team battle for the other spot in the spot.

They are second with a two-point lead on Harbour View and shall join already-qualified leaders and defending champions Tivoli Gardens in Sunday's final at the National Stadium at 7 p.m., as long as they take maximum points off the hard-to-beat Village team, which has drawn six and won two of their 10 matches.

Harbour View, facing a must-win situation, are the only other team threatening St Georges' first-time participation in an End-of-Round final.

With three points for a win, one for a draw and nil for a loss, the Stars of the East's hopes are beating on at least two probabilities: winning their 6 p.m. fixture at Arnett; plus any other result that is not a winning one for St Georges, at Lynch Park.

A St Georges draw and a Harbour View victory would leave the teams tied on 22 points. Thus the situation would necessitate a second-tier tie-breaker, which is goal difference.

St Georges now have a one-goal disadvantage, but if they end even on goal difference - based on today's results - Harbour View have scoredmore goals and would qualify.

The third includes their head-to-head outcome, which finished 1-1; then goals scored Harbour View, now, are four goals to the better.

Both decisive matches are expected to be tough, but based on the recent form displayed by the teams, St Georges are favoured to advance. They have the stingiest defence, conceding only three goals in 10 matches. Most importantly, they have not been beaten at home this season - winning three of four matches.

Meanwhile, the two matches that Village lost were among their last four; including Sunday at home when they went down 0-2 to Harbour View. Additionally, they are beset by scoring problems, netting only seven times in 10 games.

Another factor impacting the matches is that every point accumulated counts toward the championship, so even though Village and Arnett are not in the hunt for a place in Sunday's final, they also have enough motivation to win.

Desperation could be seen as an accessory to Harbour View's cause. But it is one that is certain to be kicked away in the much-spirited play that has characterised this rivalry, in which home turf counts for nothing as either team have registered their fair share of victories in each other's backyard.

Harbour View's form has wavered with every possible outcome (win, draw, lose) in their last three outings, while Arnett - which also won Sunday - continued their resurgence by netting a near-maximum 13 points in five fixtures.

All things considered, though, all the limelight will zoom in on Portland should St Georges win and claim the spot at stake in Sunday's End of Round final.

Games on

Portmore United vs Tivoli Gardens at Ferdie Neita Park at 5 p.m.

Boys' Town vs Waterhouse at Collie Smith Drive at 3 p.m.

Arnett Gardens vs Harbour View at Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex at 6 p.m.

St Georges vs Village United at Lynch Park at 3 p.m.

Rivoli United vs Sporting Central Academy at Spanish Town Prison Oval at 6 p.m.

August Town vs Humble Lions at UWI Bowl at 3 p.m.

Standings

Digicel Premier League standings after matches played on Sunday.

Teams	P	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	PTS
Tivoli	10	7	2	1	22	10	12	23
St Georges	10	6	3	1	11	3	8	21
H View	10	5	4	1	15	8	7	19
Boys' Town	10	3	5	2	9	7	2	14
Arnett	10	4	1	5	11	11	0	13
Portmore	10	3	4	3	7	8	-1	13
W'house	10	4	1	5	12	16	-4	13
Village	10	2	6	2	7	9	-2	12
Rivoli	10	2	5	3	10	11	-1	11
Sporting	10	2	3	5	8	9	-1	9
H Lions	10	1	4	5	9	15	-6	7
August Twn	10	1	2	7	5	19	-14	5