The Lucozade Big Six competition is not big enough for St Ann's Rangers and United Petrotrin.
Rangers, who are level on points with Petrotrin but have a superior goal difference, need just a point to hang on to sixth spot, which also guarantees participation in the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation FA Trophy competition.
Hosts Petrotrin must win or end their season with nothing else but the Toyota Classic to contest.
It is a scenario that was inconceivable to Petrotrin supporters in June when they stormed to the top of the Pro League standings with six consecutive wins. Former "Strike Squad" standout Brian Williams was head coach and nearly half their team was on the national squad, including Jerol Forbes-one of the league's leading scorers at the time.
A 2-1 loss to Pro League rookies and, at the time, table-proppers, Ma Pau FC, burst their bubble though and Petrotrin were winless for their next five matches and suffered three losses during that period.
Forbes and his strike partner Beville Joseph jumped ship for defending champions CLICO San Juan Jabloteh when the transfer window opened in August and, within weeks, Petrotrin sacked Williams after another dismal spell of four straight defeats.
Ironically, Williams' last game in charge was a 4-1 loss to Rangers at the Larry Gomes Stadium, Malabar.
Leon Carpette, another former national player with a South Trinidad background, is at the helm now although the improvement has been minimal at best. Petrotrin have one win and two draws from six games under their new coach while they conceded 12 times with just seven goals to show in the same period.
On Thursday night, Petrotrin played as though on a leash in a 1-1 draw against Economy North East Stars in Malabar.
The first half was interrupted by a 20-minute power shortage and, when play resumed, Anthony Wolfe brought patient spectators to their feet with a powerful strike into the far corner to put Stars ahead in the 36th minute.
Petrotrin equalised in their first meaningful attack, three minutes later, as striker Kevon Woodley headed home from a neat lofted pass by national playmaker Keon Daniel.
Five of Woodley's seven league goals came after Forbes' departure and he is in good form at the moment. But he was an isolated figure up front on Thursday as Petrotrin lacked the ambition to push for three points.
Stars, who gave a debut to 2007 Caribbean Cup midfielder Leslie "Tiger" Fitzpatrick, dominated the second half and 2006 World Cup defender Brent Sancho and Guyanese international Randolph Jerome both saw efforts rebound off the upright while Petrotrin full back Wesley Frederick blocked a goalbound attempt by Wolfe.
Petrotrin must do better in Palo Seco today to win a Lucozade Big Six spot and need Daniel to approach his best form behind Woodley while the defensive quartet of Makan Hislop, Kareem Smith, Lyndon Diaz and goalkeeper Glenroy Samuel-who have all been involved with the national team this year-must defy Rangers' slick counter-attacking game.
The only triumph of Carpette's tenure thus far came on the bouncy, uneven surface of the deep south venue against Tobago United on October 4. But it was just the second win from their last five outings in Palo Seco where they were recently humbled by bmobile Joe Public and North East Stars.
Rangers have had their own problems and are likely to still be without injured captain Josimar Belgrave, who is the league's third highest scorer with 15 goals. But they have plenty of firepower from striker Keyon Edwards and should provide a tough challenge, particularly if defensive stalwarts Joseph Peters and Coneal Thomas and midfielder general Ricky Charles are in the mood.
Either way, it should be an intriguing contest.
TODAY'S T&T PRO LEAGUE MATCHES:
4 p.m.-W Connection vs Caledonia AIA, Ato Boldon Stadium
4 p.m.-North East Stars vs Defence Force, Larry Gomes Stadium
6 p.m.-San Juan Jabloteh vs Joe Public, Larry Gomes Stadium
4 p.m.-United Petrotrin vs St Ann's Rangers, Palo Seco Recreation Ground
5 p.m.-Tobago United vs Ma Pau, Dwight Yorke Stadium
WEDNESDAY'S RESULTS:
Tobago United 0 W Connection 2 (Jose Luis Seabra, 44th, Clyde Leon, 60th)
Caledonia AIA 1(Kareem Joseph, 34th St Ann's Rangers 0
North East Stars 1 (Anthony Wolfe, 37th) United Petrotrin 1 (Kevon Woodley (41st)
Ma Pau 0 San Juan Jabloteh 2 (Marvin Oliver, 34th, Jerol Forbes, 54th)
Joe Public 5 (Arnold Dwarika, 12th, Roen Nelson, 27th & 45th, Christopher Harvey, 30th, Shane Calderon 87th) Defence Force 0