Oamaru trainer Phil Williamson sits on 28 wins for the season heading into the meeting, just three wins ahead of Westwood Beach trainer Graeme Anderson.
With five runners to Williamson's two, Anderson has a chance to close the gap or possibly even move ahead.
Williamson has won the Otago trainers' premiership the past six seasons.
The trotting maestro looks a good chance to extend his lead to four wins in tonight's first race.
His runner, Taieri Miss, worked very hard racing outside the leader and winner Fancy Woman last week. She had the rest of the field, which includes several of the horses she will race tonight, well covered so must be a strong winning chance.
Williamson and Anderson go head to head in tonight's feature trot in race 7.
Anderson's Kiwi Crusher comfortably won the corresponding race last week and looks set to be competitive again tonight.
She easily beat Williamson's runner, Pyramid Magic, although he he should strip fitter tonight as it was his first run back from a spell.
Pyramid Magic and Kiwi Crusher will have to hold out likely favourite Splash Cola to win. The Nathan Williamson trained-trotter looks the strongest winning chance in the event on the back of her last-start win on the track.
Anderson will attempt to work his magic on two runners who have their first starts from his stable tonight.
Nicky Anew has his first start in race 3 for Anderson after running seventh in his last start at Forbury Park for Ashburton trainer Chris Morrison.
Beaudiene Emerald ran fifth behind Bub's VC last week for Brent White and wears Anderson's colours for the first time tonight when she clashes with Notaword in race 5.
Notaword has shown continued improvement each time he has hit the racetrack in his four career starts and he ran second for trainer Dan Cummings behind Bub's VC last week.
''I think it's just the fact he's been worked on his own and he just needed a race or two to learn what he was he was there for and those races have served him quite well,'' Cummings said.
Notaword's training regime includes taking in scenic views from all corners of Cummings' Tuapeka Lodge, near Lawrence.
''He only gets the cart on at the races otherwise he gets ridden up the hill at the moment.''
The horse's chances tonight took a hit when he drew wide in barrier 7, but he still looks a strong each-way prospect.
Tuapeka Lodge is awaiting the rival of some potential racetrack stars from its band of five broodmares.
Reigning Otago aged racemare of the year Break Dance is in foal to American Ideal and is due in October.
Petra's Star, the dam of Interdominion heat winner Galactic Star, is in foal to A Rocknroll Dance.
Those mares are running with top racemare Bonnie Joan, who is in the broodmare paddock before being mated with Bettor's Delight.
