This week's game between Kings United and the University Blue Whales shapes as the crunch match regarding which side will be top dog going into the semifinals of the men's club season.
With two rounds to play, University Blue Whales now sit top of the ladder on 27 points and look to be moving into some good form.
They had a big 7-3 win over Albany Alligators at the McMillan Hockey Centre on Saturday.
Kings United beat University Black Panthers 5-1 in Saturday's other game in Dunedin.
The Blues Whales were too strong for an Albany team down on manpower as the result of having four players away on representative duty.
Striker Henry Will was the main man for the Blue Whales, scoring four goals as the students ran away with the game in the second half.
Albany is tied on 25 points in second place on the ladder with defending Kings United.
The top three teams are well clear of the next placed team so finishing top will mean a less formidable semifinal opponent.
The semifinals are set for August 5 and the final the following weekend.
In Gore, the Taieri Tuataras edged Southland 3-2.
Both sides had players away on representative duty and other commitments.
In the women's grade, the University White Huskies won out in the battle of the student sides, beating University Stingrays 4-0.
The two top sides met in the main game and City Highlanders were too good for Momona, winning 3-0.
Momona is still top of the table on 30 points, with City Highlanders three points behind in second.
Taieri Tuataras, third on the ladder on 23 points, joined the Taieri men's team in heading south to Gore to take on Southland, but they failed to fire and lost 4-1 to Southland Barbarians.
The game between Kings United and Otago under-18 was deferred as the age-grade side was playing in a national tournament last week.
