Park have a golden opportunity to move closer to securing a berth in the Score Energy Drink EPRU Grand Challenge Top 12 club rugby playoffs when they host Progress on Saturday.
The Londt Park outfit, who occupy fourth place on the 12-team log, want to make home-ground advantage count as the battle for semifinal spots intensifies.
Third-placed Progress, who are gunning for a double of Grand Challenge and EC Super 14 titles, will be equally determined to pocket the points on offer.
With Gardens and Harlequins looking well set to fill the top two places, a fierce duel will unfold over the next few weeks as teams fight for third and fourth place.
The semifinals are scheduled to be played on October 11 and the grand final is on October 18.
Teams in the playoff hunt, with points and matches played in brackets, are: Gardens 68 (15), Harlequins 60 (15), Progress 53 (15), Park 48 (16), Kruisfontein United 44 (17), Trying Stars 40 (17) and Joubertina United 37 (16).
Ahead of Saturday's showdown, Park and Progress suffered defeats last week and will be eager to reignite their challenge for Top 12 glory.
Another loss could prove to be catastrophic for either side's ambitions and leave them empty-handed at the end of the season.
Kruisfontein kept their hopes of snatching a top four finish alive when they pipped Park 35-27 in a pulsating clash at the Sports Complex in Humansdorp.
Progress' playoff hopes were jolted when they slipped to a 24-17 defeat to the NMU Madibaz at the campus.
The Madibaz came flying out of the blocks and roared into a commanding 24-3 halftime lead over the visitors from Kariega.
Progress showed grit in the second period when they kept the students scoreless and gnawed away at their lead to ensure a nail-biting finish.
The Kariega side, who were crowned EC Super 14 champions at the start of the season, must maintain a high level of consistency in their remaining matches to realise their goal of securing a double.
With so much at stake, sparks will fly when the best-placed teams behind Gardens and Harlequins flex their muscles.
Kruisfontein will be looking to build on last week's win over Park when they travel to face bottom-of-the-log Despatch Oostelikes at the Daleview Sports Field.
While form suggests Kruisfontein should have little difficulty in pocketing maximum points, they will up against a desperate home side.
There were scenes of jubilation at Daleview Sports last week when Oostelikes pipped United Barbarians 30-29.
It was an Oostelikes first win of the season and ended a 16-match losing streak which has left them entrenched at the bottom of the log.
Whether Oostelikes have the staying power to produce another upset will be thoroughly tested by a well-balanced Kruisfontein outfit.
At this late stage of the season, Oostelikes and United Barbarians are the most likely candidates to be relegated to the Middle 12 Division.
Harlequins can cement their position at No. 2 in the standings when they travel to face Trying Stars in Alexandria.
Last week, Harlequins were pushed all the way by Joubertina United before they were able to walk away with a narrow 20-19 victory.
Gardens will be looking to stretch their unbeaten run to 16 matches when they host Joubertina United at the Derrick Ferreira Stadium in Kariega.
It has been a remarkable season for Gardens, who have kept their eye on the big prize despite a gruelling series of matches.
KwaNobuhle outfit Star of Hope can move clear of the relegation zone if they beat a struggling United Barbarians side in Patensie.
Saturday's fixtures:
Top 12: Despatch Oostelikes v Kruisfontein United, United Barbarians v Star of Hope, Gardens v Joubertina United, Park v Progress, Trying Stars v Harlequins, Brumbies v NMU Madibaz.
Middle 12: Spring Rose v Kwaru, Kirkwood v African Bombers, Motherwell v Police/Crusaders, Central v Despatch, Hankey Villagers v Jeffreys Bay.
Bottom 12: Windvogel v St Marks, Adelaide Rangers v Orlando Eagles, Born Fighters v Easterns, Helenvale United v Aberdeen, Lily White v Suburban, Kareedouw Tigers v Middelburg Eagles.
The Herald
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