THERE are big games at both the top and the bottom of the Canada Life Premier League this Saturday.
At the summit current pacesetters St George’s make the trip to fellow title contenders St Mary’s.
Geordies are well and truly back in the groove after an early season ‘wobble’ and will be further reinforced this week by the return of skipper Sean Quaye and Johnny Myers after both missed last week’s victory over Gymns.
Fellow defensive stalwart Julian Ringham, however, remains a doubt with a thigh injury, but winger Sam Caine will be back in contention on his return to full fitness after sitting out the last couple of games.
The Bowl outfit’s main threat will once again by Golden Boot leader Steven Priestnal with the island striker having already bagged 18 goals this term.
With St George’s counter-part Calum Morrissey also hitting the goal trail in recent weeks this should be an entertaining and tight encounter that might yet have some bearing on the overall title race.
At the sharp end of the top-flight standings, Gymns welcome Ramsey to Tromode in what is already a vital match for both teams’ survival hopes.
Ramsey beat fellow strugglers Marown last weekend to leapfrog this weekend’s opponents and move out of the division’s bottom two.
The northerners look to be at near-full strength for their trip to the capital with only Kris Halsall likely to miss out with knee ligament damage.
Ken Hedley’s hosts have a few more injury problems with goalkeeper Chris Kelly and striker Nick Bowden still side-lined.
Defender Gareth Gawne will also sit the match out, serving the last of a three-game ban. Again, this could go either way.
St John’s and Laxey will kick-start the weekend’s football programme a little earlier than normal when they play the first floodlit match of the season at Mullen-e-Cloie on Friday evening.
The Saints still remain firmly in contention for a Railway Cup spot and will prove a stern test for the league-chasing Miners.
Elsewhere Peel host DHSOB in a match that could make or break their Railway Cup hopes, while at the Stadium Castletown will look to put behind them last week’s heavy defeat at Old Boys when they host Corinthians. Also in the south Rushen play host to Union Mills.