Southampton Oval then two teams will see their title hopes virtually dashed this weekend.

The east-enders presently lead their main title contenders, Bailey's Bay, Southampton and Western Stars, by four points with five matches remaining. And with Stars and Bay meeting in the other top match only a St. George's loss will keep the title race open.

Having beaten Bay, and most recently Stars, St. George's have the inside track to their third league title since 1988. Already the teams trying to catch them have to rely on help from somebody else.

St. George's have St. David's, PHC, Police and Warwick to play after tomorrow while Rangers meet Bailey's Bay, Flatts, Devonshire Rec. and Hamilton Parish.

Stars have to meet Flatts, Willow Cuts, Social Club and Cleveland with Bay taking on Rangers, St. David's, Somerset and Social Club in their remaining matches.

Rangers can do their bit to keep the race open and nothing short of victory will keep their hopes alive. Clevie Wade will be the only St. Georgian at Southampton Oval tomorrow not hoping for a St. George's victory.

The Rangers all-rounder goes up against the team he once captained, and after being dropped from Cup Match, knows that helping Rangers to victory will be the perfect revenge.

St. George's will be without key batsman Clay Smith who is expected to be out for a month with a shoulder injury so the balance of the match could be tilted slightly.

That does not mean, though, that the Rangers bowlers will have an easy time against a batting team that still contains the likes of Wendell Smith, Dexter Smith, Graham Fox, Ricky Hodsoll, Dean Minors and, if some big hitting is needed, Kenny Phillips in the middle order.

An equally exciting match is promised at St. John's field where Western Stars host Bailey's Bay, knowing that now is probably their last chance to close the gap on the leaders.

The losers will virtually be eliminated from the title race and be left to battle, possibly, with Cleveland, Devonshire Rec. and St. David's for Camel Cup places for next season.

Though Stars beat Bay convincingly to win the Camel Cup this year, tomorrow's encounter promises to be much closer with little to choose between the teams though Stars have a more varied bowling attack.

Both teams are packed with batting, with Gregory Sampson, Anthony Foggo, Andre Manders, Arnold Manders, Jeff Richardson and Cleon Scotland leading the way for Stars and Glenn Smith, Charlie Marshall, Chris Smith and Noel Gibbons the key men for Bay in that department.

Cleveland will join at least one team on 16 points after this weekend should they win as expected over Warwick tomorrow at Sea Breeze Oval while fifth-placed Devonshire should bounce back from last weekend's loss to Willow Cuts with a win over Social Club. St. David's should extend their winning streak to seven games at the expense of Somerset Bridge at Lord's.

In other matches, Willow Cuts take on Flatts at Somerset, PHC are at home at White Hill field to the season's most disappointing team, Police, who have slumped to fourth from bottom, while Hamilton Parish take on Somerset at Wellington Oval.