League leader Caversham is entering the home straight of a tough season in its bid to reclaim the FootballSouth Premier League title from cross-town rival Dunedin Technical.
The two top teams clashed in an entertaining game last weekend, with Caversham claiming all three points in a 2-1 win.
Dunedin Technical initiated pressure from the first whistle and an early goal would have certainly provided a confidence boost for the host side.
However, Caversham weathered the early onslaught and settled into a better rhythm as time progressed and created the sharper chances during the match.
Caversham leads Technical, which has three games in hand, by 11 points, and is aware two good final performances will be enough to secure the title and the coveted Blair Davidson Trophy for Dunedin's so-called summer months.
Caversham hosts Mosgiel today at a wet Tonga Park, and the following week heads to Ellis Park to play Roslyn-Wakari.
There will be extra motivation for Caversham today as coach Tim Horner has arrived back in town after an extended overseas trip.
Experienced coach Richard Murray has done a good job as a stand-in over the past four weeks, registering three good wins and an away loss to Queenstown.
Mosgiel will welcome back its Milk Cup players but will be without Aaron Corkill, due to a leg injury, and defender Steven Cromb, who has a wound after suffering a head clash last week. Veteran Michael Abbott will be required to pass a late fitness test to participate in the match.
Dunedin Technical will have a difficult game when it hosts University at Bayfield Park.
The students will be without midfielder Rupert Mark, who is recovering from a broken arm, but will otherwise field a strong team.
Technical, which will field a settled side, will be wanting to bounce back to winning ways after the loss to Caversham, knowing a slip by the leading team will keep Technical's title aspirations alive.
Northern plays Roslyn-Wakari at Forrester Park.
The host side will be without Truth Toheriri, who is absent due to family reasons, and will also miss Blair Brown, who has match analysis commitments with the national provincial championship.
Roslyn-Wakari will be without Tommy Connor (knee) and Allan Craig (thigh). Rory McLeod will be available for today's match.
Green Island will be searching for an overdue victory at Sunnyvale when it takes on arguably the most improved team in the league, Queenstown Rovers.
A possible good luck omen for Green Island could be that its last win was against Rovers at Sunnyvale, a 1-0 result at the end of June.
- Wilson James
