If the South is going to make a charge towards the national league final, it has to be made this weekend.
With three rounds remaining, both southern teams find themselves on the bottom of the competition table and in desperate need of points.
The Southern Stampede will play the West Auckland Admirals in back-to-back matches in Avondale this weekend, while the Dunedin Thunder will host the Botany Swarm.
The Stampede made the final last year but has struggled to produce consistent results and is in fourth place in the five-team league with 12 points from 10 matches.
But the Queenstown-based team still has time to turn the season around.
Two wins against the Admirals (16 points) will see it leapfrog its opponent into third place.
The Stampede had a good win against the Canterbury Red Devils in its last outing, winning 7-4.
But the Admirals are also in good form, dispatching the Thunder in back-to-back games in Dunedin last weekend.
That proved damaging for the Thunder, which had been well-placed to push for a place in the final.
Having previously won just two games in two years, the Thunder had a 50% record with four wins from eight matches until the Admirals burst its bubble, leaving the Thunder in last place with 11 points from 10 games.
Thunder coach James van Leeuwen acknowledged not much went to plan but he believes his side is capable of bouncing back and upsetting the competition leader.
"Hopefully, they [Swarm] are thinking it is going to be an easier game, after our loss to the Admirals," van Leeuwen said.
The sides have met twice this year.
The Swarm won the first 8-7 in overtime.
The Thunder bounced back to win the second game 4-1.
