TODAY sees Evolution Painting & Decorating Wanganui City return home for their Lotto Federation League match-up against Palmerston North Boys' High at 2.30pm.
The two Wanganui City clubs in the Western Premiership put on the curtain-raiser at 12.30pm, while Devon Homes Wanganui travel to Skoglund Park to take on the Palmerston North Marist Thirds.
With just six rounds left in the Federation League, hopes of a top four finish are starting to slip away for Wanganui City after falling to Team Taranaki 2-0 last Monday.
It was a well-fought match as expected with City changing their formation to a 4-5-1 structure in an attempt to slow down the aggressive attacking of the Taranaki team.
But they were ultimately unable to hold out the onslaught and were unlucky not to capitalise on their opportunities in front of goal.
So this weekend is about building on that decent performance, and taking the game to Boys' High.
City fell 3-0 to Boys' High in their last meeting, so a turnaround in performance is needed for them to walk away with their dignity today.
The new formation should help City find the win they're looking for though, as historically, City teams have performed well when they manage to control the middle of the park.
On their day, they can dictate the pace and direction of the game, as they did successfully last year in their championship-winning effort in the Western Premiership.
While City sit fifth on the table, Boys' High sit just above them, six points clear, so a win is crucial if they are to stay within spitting distance of a top four placing.
The Wanganui City Reserves and Renovators will take the field before their first team's fixture in what will be a match for bragging rights which should provide plenty of entertainment.
These two teams first met in the opening round of the Western Premiership, with the Renovators taking away the honours with a 2-0 victory over the more senior Reserves team.
But both sides have had a mixed bag of performances to date and will be looking to stamp the claim that they are back on track this season, and will be looking to do so on the main ground at Wembley at 12.30pm.
This match-up will be a hotly contested one, with the Reserves likely to engage in their more direct, physical approach to the game, while the Renovators will aim to control the match through Tex von Kwiatowski's structured and open playing style.
The Renovators will be pleased to regain the services of Ben Toyne and Neihana Kahl today, as their absences proved costly in their previous match, with Toyne's mature presence sorely missed in the midfield.
This match will hinge on whether the Renovators can stand up to the physical approach likely to be employed by the Reserves, and whether they can use the width of the park wisely to exploit the Reserves' frailties out wide.
If the Reserves manage to control the game and can deliver the play through the centre of the park, then their strong midfield featuring Chris Annabell will surely prevail.
Wanganui Athletic are the only team away from Wembley this weekend and will be travelling with the surety that their fixture should be an easy three points to bank.
A 2-1 victory was the result the last time these two teams met, but it was in the opening round of the season, when Athletic were still looking to gel as a rebuilt squad.
Since then the Reds have gone from strength to strength, and are strongly placed in third position, still just one win off league leaders the Red Sox As, who they host at home next weekend.
Star import Hishi Lama will again be looked on today to provide some goals and assists, having notched up three goals in his four appearances for the club.
That is only one goal shy of the team's leading goal scorer Richard Saunders - four from eight appearances.
This could be a defining match for Athletic as a litmus test for how far they've come this season, and they will be looking to put out their best 11 players on the park to ensure they stamp their mark on the competition and announce themselves as title contenders.