Development's date at Skoglund

Wanganui Athletic Reserve's Jordan Canndish takes a swing at goal before Horowhitu's Mark Manson can catch him. The Reserves play PNBHS today.

The waiting game circus continues for the Devon Homes Wanganui Athletic first team as catch-up games for other teams in the league leave them without a game again this weekend.

It means the Athletic Reserves are the only Premier team playing today, with their fixture against Palmerston North Boys High at Skoglund Park in the Western Premiership set to be another test of character.

Back home at Wembley, the Charity Cup competitions continue with plenty of tantalising matchups, along with the last week of the women's Senior Cup competition.

If all things had gone to script, by this point of the Western Premiership the Athletic Reserves should have been starting to gel and hit their stride.

But the young development team appear to be taking a bit longer than usual to solidify the form that they need to be putting on show.

A spate of losses in recent rounds have really dealt the young development side a blow to their morale, as they struggle with the self belief needed to get themselves moving back up the table.

However, the ability to call on a few more of the experienced first team players again this week for leadership will again be invaluable for the team as they face a well oiled Palmerston North Boys High, who currently sit fourth on the table and will push them to their limits - forcing Athletic to perform to their best or risk being embarrassed.

A draw for the Reserves probably wont change their position on the table too much, however the rewards from the performance would be worth way more than the single competition point it would bring, and should they cause an upset and steal the full three points from PNBHS, it would be an upset that should set them soaring.

The Senior Cup competition, a club-only competition run during the school holidays, has its last matchups today before the school teams return and the regular season continues.

Athletic Women host the Castlecliff Saints in what should be a well spirited and even battle between two sides determined to enjoy their Saturday outings, while a top of the table clash between the Wanganui City Women and the Rivercity Scrappers should be more of a vigorous encounter - City currently holding a solid six point lead at the top of the table but with the Scrappers still having a game in hand.

A Scrappers win today over the City Women would set up the competition for a tight finish when the final rounds are played.

The Charity Cup has a long history of upset results and bitterly fought battles, and the first round last weekend presented no change to that, with the prospect of more of the same today with plenty of great games on offer.

In Pool A games, the Marist Shamrocks face off against the Rivercity Braves, who were Division 2 winners, in a match sure to reignite the battle waged between these two teams in the regular season.

Meanwhile St Anthony's Castlecliff will be looking to teach the Marist Casuals a lesson, but will need to wary of the fight and heart of the men in orange.

A club derby rounds out the play in Pool A, with the dominant City Wanderers betting on easily dispatching their clubmates, the City Thirsties.

But with the Thirsties having several players who could be game changers, it may not be the walkover the Wanderers will be hoping for.

In Pool B, the Rivercity Chiefs and the Marist Bhoys will both be looking for the win, with the Bhoys hoping to continue flying the flag for Marist in Pool B, and the Chiefs hoping to cause an upset and steal points for their own cause.

The experienced Athletic Cosmos will face rivals Castlecliff United which should be a tightly fought battle between possession-based football, and undying commitment to the club cause, while the City Hammers will be looking to cement their spot at the top of Pool B as they take on the Athletic Weekenders, which historically is always an entertaining matchup.