As the Southern Football League enters its fifth round tomorrow, all three Dunedin derbies have been played.
They are also the only three games from which the southern teams have mustered points.
Caversham has looked the most convincing, beating Mosgiel and Otago University to be fourth on six points.
If it and the other two Dunedin sides are to keep progressing, they will need to break the Mainland dominance.
It is Caversham that has the toughest task this weekend.
A trip north to league leader Nelson Suburbs awaits. Suburbs has perfect 12 points and has conceded just one goal all season.
However, Caversham showed its attacking flair by scoring six in its most recent league outing against University.
It also comes off a 2-1 loss to Auckland's Bay Olympic in the Chatham Cup quarterfinals.
Reeling in Nelson will be a tough task now.
After Caversham, its remaining games are against University and Coastal Spirit.
Coastal may be the most likely to catch up. It is on nine points, although has a hard run in.
Tomorrow it will enter as favourite at the Caledonian Ground against Otago University.
The Dunedin students are still searching for their first points and will need to be far more compact at the back than in their previous match.
However, Coastal will finish with games against Cashmere Technical and Nelson.
Defending champion Cashmere Tech has dropped just one game, to Nelson.
It must rely on Nelson dropping points elsewhere if it is to have a shot at retaining its title.
While Coastal has the toughest run, it does have the opportunity to take three points off both of those top sides.
For Cashmere to remain in touch, it will need to deny Mosgiel its first points against Mainland opposition.
It will be without Southern United ace striker Garbhan Coughlan, who has picked up a foot injury.
That is a big loss, although it has plenty of other class throughout its line-up and will be a tough challenge for a young Mosgiel side.
In the final match, Nomads United hosts Western in a game from which both sides need points.
Western is tied with Caversham on six points, while Nomads picked up its only three in a win over University.
