Unbeaten Caversham is likely to hold on to the Blair Davidson Challenge trophy against Northern in the premier match at Tonga Park today.
In contrasting fortunes, Caversham is playing exciting attacking football and scoring plenty of goals, while Northern is in tatters after conceding 24 goals in four matches and scoring just once this season.
Northern coach Murray Devereux is still upbeat.
''Results may not suggest it, but we are improving, although it will be another difficult game against a Cavvy side that is going really well,'' he said.
Possibly Northern's Chatham Cup match with West End in Timaru on Monday will allow the team to draw breath and find some winning form, but as an indication of strength and depth, the South Canterbury first division club boasts 30 senior and junior teams.
Caversham coach Tim Horner is still keeping his sun shades on, despite impeccable results such as beating rival Dunedin Technical 3-1.
Horner is still critical of some aspects of his side's play.
''We have had some good spells of play, but we need to be more consistent, use the ball better and put away more of the chances we are creating,'' he said.
Caversham travels on Monday to play the undefeated Queens Park in Invercargill, and will no doubt be observed by Southland's new area coach, Luis Paiva.
He hails from Portugal and has agreed to a three-year contract in the role.
Paiva joins the director of football, Uruguayan Ignacio Sandes, who took over in Southland after Scotsman John McLelland's brief coaching tenure in Invercargill.
The closest FPL match today should be between Roslyn-Wakari and Mosgiel, at Ellis Park.
Roslyn will be without the suspended Patrick Ebanda, and table-topping Mosgiel looks to have good playing depth and is turning on some stylish football.
On Monday in the cup, Mosgiel will play a derby match against Green Island at Sunnyvale, where home advantage might just tip the balance towards coach Malcolm Fleming's Island side.
On the same day, Roslyn travels to Invercargill to play mid-table South End at Bain Park.
University has slipped down to sixth place in the league and needs to regain winning form against Green Island today.
They are two mobile attacking teams, the students possibly having the edge in power.
University will then host Pleasant Point in the cup on Monday at Forrester Park.
Premier women's football is in action tomorrow, as Dunedin Technical plays University at Culling Park, and Roslyn heads to Central Otago to play Queenstown.
