in the fifth round of the Premier League...one with their sights set on opening a gap at the top and the other desperate to get back to their winning ways.

St. David's have 20 points along with Somerset, and will rely on St. George's to help them move clear of the chasing pack.

For that to happen, St. George's must beat unbeaten Somerset, but they know that they won't only be doing St. David's a favour but themselves as well as a third league defeat would severely hurt their league aspirations.

At nearby White Hill, St. David's should make it five wins in a row when they take on Somerset Bridge. This should be a one-sided contest with St. David's starting to peak while Bridge are still looking to get off the mark at the other end of the table.

Plenty has been said this week about the quality of some of the weaker teams, but there could be as many as five or six strong contenders for the league title which Southampton Rangers won last season. By the end of June the cream should start rising to the top with St. David's then getting stronger with the return of batsmen Clay Smith and Allen Richardson.

Stars and Bailey's Bay are both just five points off the pace, with Stars having a game in hand after their bye last weekend. Tomorrow Stars meet Devonshire Rec. for the second time this weekend at St. John's field -- they also meet today in the second round of the Central Counties -- while Bay should prove too strong for a rebuilding Warwick team at Sea Breeze Oval.

The batsmen with the two highest scores this season -- Keith Wainwright and Philip Burgess -- will square off at Southampton Oval where Rangers meet Flatts. Wainwright blasted a record 225 against Social Club last weekend, beating Burgess' previous season-high against St. David's.

Rangers should win but certainly there is enough quality in the Flatts bowling to suggest that the Rangers batsmen don't have things their own way again.

One of the best matches of the day should be at Police field where mid-table teams Police and Willow Cuts meet. Willow have already lost twice and will be desperate for a victory to avoid sliding further down the tables.

Certainly there is enough quality in the Cuts team to suggest they are capable of a top four challenge. Captain Dexter Basden has been the leading batsman for Cuts this season but others will have to produce, too, if they are to have a chance of beating Police.

PHC meet Cleveland at Wellington Oval in the other match.