George's tonight when they step out for the second time this week.

The East Enders swing back into action at BAA Field where they take on the Green Knights (9.00) in a match of utmost importance to both teams.

St. George's, presently bunched in mid-table where just one point separates six teams, can go three places in either direction depending on the result.

Victory will lift them as high as third while defeat could see them slumping as low as ninth depending how Sunday's results go.

It's that type of uncertainty that is making this one of the most intriguing seasons in a long time. Except for last-placed BAA, whose hopes of survival could hinge on a victory tonight, the rest of the nine teams are set to do another reshuffling act this weekend.

BAA coach Johnny Adams predicted at the beginning of the season that this would be a wide open division and so it has been with even BAA producing a major upset by defeating previously unbeaten Somerset.

BAA will need some help from the Trojans this weekend as they entertain Vasco, one of the teams three points ahead of them, but it is also vitally important to their survival hopes that they beat St. George's tonight to give themselves a chance of closing that gap.

"We definitely can't let it get any bigger than the three points it is now,'' said coach Adams this week. "We can still be one point behind after Sunday night but we can't worry about Somerset beating Vasco or Dandy Town beating Village, we have to beat St. George's first.

"We have to keep picking up points. As long as we can get at least a point every game, and then with a few wins anything can happen. And it has to start Friday night.'' BAA started the season by losing to North Village, St.

George's and Vasco in their first three matches before beating Devonshire Cougars, drawing with Devonshire Colts and beating Somerset in their next three.

Three losses in their last four matches, combined with a good run by Devonshire Cougars, has resulted in BAA slipping back to the bottom. Sunday's loss to Village, after twice leading, was a real blow to BAA who lost valuable ground as Village rose from eighth to fourth.

"We gave away the points on Sunday against North Village,'' Adams believed.

"We should have had two points. We're in a position where every game is critical.

"We still have a lot of games to play but we're slowly starting to run out of games so it's important that we get points from every game, even one point.'' Adams insists that except for the 8-0 opening game thrashing they suffered at the hands of Village, they have held their own this season.

"We should have beaten St. George's the first time around but we just missed so many chances,'' said Adams. "We're making some mental errors in the last 15 minutes of games and it cost us against Boulevard, PHC and North Village where we were either ahead or tied and made silly mistakes and were punished.

"It is frustrating at the bottom because when you're down there everything is magnified. We can compete, obviously the absence of Meshach (Wade) is a big loss but we've had many injuries and have used 32 players. We miss a leader on the field.'' Adams, observing the standings, felt that any two of eight teams could go down this season, the only exception being the top two Somerset and Dandy Town.

"Anything other than an outright victory on Friday will be a disappointment,'' Adams conceded. "I know St. George's are playing well, and they are probably one of the most improved teams in the First Division, but I feel we're more than capable of beating them.

"It's very exciting having so many teams close and I think that's good. And I think it's going to be that way right down to the end of the season. I hope we can get involved in that battle.

"We're not even thinking about going back to the Second Division. Every game other than that first game against North Village we've been in with a chance to win or get a point.'' One team that looks certain to be playing in the First Division next season is Southampton Rangers who should take another giant step in that direction tonight by beating Prospect in the opening match at 7.00.

The match is a make-up encounter, having been postponed originally on October 30. Victory for Rangers would put them six points clear of second-placed team Somerset Eagles.

Two women's division matches are also scheduled for tonight at Devonshire Rec.

with Dandy Stars playing Rude Girls at 7.00 and BAA Telecom taking on Somerset Terminators in the 9.00 clash.