Hurricanes look to slow down Eagles, Scorpions face Red Force in crucial clash - West Indies Championship resumes today following a two-week break

ST JOHN'S, Antigua (CMC):

The Leeward Islands Hurricanes will look to inflict a first defeat on leaders Guyana Harpy Eagles when the West Indies Championship resumes today following a two-week break.

The defending champions have won four of their five matches and with just two more rounds of matches remaining, are almost guaranteed of a playoff spot having already accumulated 102.6 points.

However, the Hurricanes, who currently sit in third position on 79.6 points, will be eager for a victory which would help them to secure a top four finish.

With the Pride (78 points) close behind in fourth and the Jamaica Scorpions in striking distance on 59.8 points, defeat for the Hurricanes could prove to be costly.

The Scorpions will also need maximum points when they take on the second placed and also unbeaten Trinidad and Tobago Red Force (101 points).

The Red Force will no doubt be favourites heading into the contest, but a loss for the Scorpions will most likely end their playoff push, especially if the Hurricanes and Pride win their matches.

Meanwhile, the Pride will be looking to rebound after their embarrassing defeat to the Red Force inside two days in the previous round.

They will do battle with the sixth place Windward Islands Volcanoes (45.8 points), who have struggled for consistency all season.

In the final match of the round, the winless Combined Campuses and Colleges and West Indies Academy will meet in a bottom-of-the-table clash that holds little significance with both sides well out of playoff contention.