Top of the table Upper Clutha hosts Matakanui Combined in Wanaka tomorrow, aiming to continue its unbeaten start to the 2018 Central Otago premier competition.
So far the club sits on a three wins from three record, amassing 143 points in the process, including 20 tries.
The Wanaka side has performed below expectations over the last few seasons and will be keen to capitalise on the good start it has made to this season.
Matakanui Combined, for its part, has had a slow start to the season but played both of last season's finalists in the first two rounds before posting a draw last weekend against old rival Alexandra.
Wakatipu returns to home base on Saturday to host Clyde Earnscleugh and should bounce back from last week's disputed draw with Cromwell.
The Queenstown side has been in impressive early season form so far, putting 100 points on Alexandra in the second round and held a good lead going into the last quarter of last week's White Horse Cup challenge.
Veteran fullback Chris Young leads the individual points table with 42 points, consisting of four tries and 11 conversions.
Clyde Earnscleugh has several players new to the club and a new coaching combination, and while the team has struggled a little, it has shown signs of getting its combinations working.
Cromwell will travel to take on Arrowtown at the Queenstown Events Centre and the Battle of the Gorge Trophy is at stake, along with the competition points, which always adds a little extra edge to the fixtures between these two teams.
Cromwell will be buoyed by its comeback last week against the champion from last season, but the coaching staff will be hammering home the need to get off to a better start this week. Arrowtown has had a mixed start to its season, but had an improved showing last week against Clyde Earnscleugh, coming out a 49-25 winner after going down to Upper Clutha comfortably in the second round.
Alexandra does battle with Maniototo at Molyneux Park and will be looking to continue its improved form from last week. Humiliated by a 100-point thrashing from Wakatipu in the second round, it put on a more committed showing against Matakanui Combined last weekend.
The young Maniototo side is also showing signs that there is plenty of life left in this once dominant area. It had a good win over Clyde Earnscleugh in round two, sandwiched between two losses, to Arrowtown and Upper Clutha, and should prove a tough opponent for the home side.
- Malcolm Jones