Caversham will be trying for its fifth successive Southern League championship when it plays Roslyn-Wakari today in a sudden-death match which could give either side the trophy.
A large crowd is expected for the 2.45pm kick-off at Ellis Park, which gives Roslyn home advantage on a ground that has been host to some titanic struggles between the clubs in the past.
The Otago Daily Times-sponsored competition promises the tightest finish ever, since the clubs are equal on 34 points.
Caversham has a better goal difference of 58, while Roslyn's is 34.
Steve Fleming's Caversham side has dominated the last five years with four championships and a second placing.
During that time, Caversham has lost only eight matches of the 108 played.
Roslyn has kept Caversham honest by being the last to win the league, in 2003, and breathing down Fleming's neck with three second finishes and one third place.
This season's new format of splitting into a top six and lower five has certainly produced increasingly more intense football, and that trend should continue as the two top southern teams play against Mainland's top two to compete for the South Island championship.
As former team-mates, and also old adversaries, Fleming and Roslyn player-coach Terry Boylan have fronted up against each other many times.
Boylan may not quite have at his disposal the firepower of Caversham, which, despite losing Carson Gorecki and Pat Fleming, still has deadly finishers in Tim Cook, Tom Jackson and new import Dave Dugdale.
Roslyn's top scorer is Sean Brand with 10 goals, and close behind are Ant Hancock and Ben Keat.
However some important goals have come through midfield via the air power of Jamie Taylor and the jinking runs of Mike Eisenhut.
Rather like a cup tie, the team that gains early advantage will have a strong psychological edge.
Coach Fleming does not expect many goals in the match, and Boylan agrees that it should be a tight contest.
"The title is there for the taking. Both teams will be up for it.
"I am looking forward to what should be an epic match," Boylan said.
At the Caledonian Ground, Dunedin Technical plays Mosgiel knowing that if there is a draw at Ellis Park, Mike Fridge's side is also still capable of winning the championship.
Much depends on Mosgiel's erratic form, but the absence of suspended Irish defender Colin Falvey must make Technical favourite to win.
Green Island travels to Central Otago needing a six-goal win to overtake Queenstown.
