Round nine of the premier Baywide rugby competition delivers another dose of matches between teams clustered closely together on the competition ladder.
Aside from an unbeaten Tauranga Sports side that is running away with the regular season, there are six other sides within sight of the top four spots.
Two of those sides - Mount Maunganui and Te Puke Sports - will meet at Blake Park on Saturday in a match with the potential to further complicate matters at the top of the table.
The defending champions have a two-point cushion in second place, but could be overtaken by both Greerton Marist and Whakarewarewa if the Mount can string 80 minutes of quality rugby together and other results fall their way.
Mount Maunganui has lost four games this season by just one point and have the second equal best for and against record despite sitting in seventh place.
Coach Rodney Voullaire said his players are trying not to let the disappointment of a number of tight loses affect them.
"We've been in close ones all season and we are just waiting to click. The boys are getting quite frustrated so I'm just hoping that we come together at some stage. We're so close; I think you've just got to hope that it clicks at the right time."
The side is missing Johan Bardoul and Adam McGarvey, while Zane Butler is under an injury cloud, but Voullaire believes the club has developed the depth to deal with injuries in key positions.
The side will likely need to go up a gear against a team that impressed last week in hammering Greerton Marist.
Marist, which had won five straight games before being humbled by Te Puke last weekend, will face an Opotiki side on its own winning streak.
Te Puna's match with Whakarewarewa is another that could have an impact on the top of the table.
Te Puna were smashed 52-24 by Opotiki last week, so will have to get their shop in order before their clash against a side that has won two of the last three.
Whakarewarewa currently reside in fourth place, but could trade places with sixth-placed Te Puna if results do not go their way.
Rangataua, fresh from a victory over Paroa last week that lifted them off the bottom of the ladder, will have to find a way to slow down a slick Tauranga Sports outfit at Te Ariki Park, while Paroa will attempt to breath life into their campaign with a crucial match against Rotoiti at Emery Park.
DIVISION ONE:
Rangiuru were shocked by Whakatane Marist last week to end their seven match unbeaten streak, and will travel to a potentially tough match against fifth-placed Waikite in round nine. The home side are winners of two straight and could be on the doorstep of the top four with a win if third-placed Kahukura can prevail at home against fourth-placed Katikati. A win for Kahukura would see the side place Poroporo and Rangiuru's positions in the top two under increasing pressure, while a loss would see them only a handful of points ahead of Katikati.
This Saturday's draw
Baywide rugby draw for Saturday, May 18
Premier: (All games to start at 2.45pm)
Division one: (All games to start at 2.45pm)