Duck shooting takes precedence this weekend as the seven teams in the South Otago premier competition have a break before coming back for the final two games to complete the first round.
Clutha and Heriot lead the table with 17 points each.
Heriot has the bye after the duck-shooting break, and the sides clash the following week.
Clutha, which plays Toko next week, can claim the Springbok horns and the Speight's Challenge Jug if it wins both games.
Clutha has backs with pace, and looks likely to take the honours.
Heriot has had three big wins, but lost two games earlier in the season, to Clinton (20-18) and Crescent (29-24), so has ground to make up if it wants to make the final later in the season.
A consistent team has been Toko, which sits on 16 points, only one point behind the two leaders.
Toko has played four games for three wins and a narrow loss to Heriot, and its clash against Clutha next week will be one of the highlights of the season.
A surprise has been the form of Clinton, which has two wins and a draw with Clutha.
The Clinton pack has been consistent all season and the backs have been strong on defence.
At the lower end of the table, Clutha Valley, Crescent and Owaka have all had one win each, but lack the pace of those in the top four.
Among the players to stand out this year have been Clutha backs Kane Teunissen and Tyler Bichan.
Teunissen has scored eight tries in the first three games.
From Heriot, Jordan Anderson and Adrian Clague have been impressive.
Toko has Mark Robinson, Tim Howie and Simon Scott showing out in the pack, while Semi Lacabuka has also been in good form with his running and goal-kicking.
Clinton has been led by Joey Herbert and Mark McKenzie in the pack, with Kurt Thomson and Todd Wells also showing good form.
Clutha Valley has relied on Josh Botting to lead the backs, with David Wilson and Ngatai Hurkmans leading the forwards.
Crescent has been struggling in recent weeks, but Harley McHardy and Norton Hill are safe in the backs, and Jamie Sutton and Andrew Carruthers show commitment.
Owaka's Josh Huddleston has been very effective at No 8, and Lochie Hannah, Jeremy Gray and Quentin Gare have kept the backs mobile.
All teams have plenty to play for as the battle for the top four continues.
The Topp Cup team will also be announced later this month.
- Norman Woods
