Opotiki and Waikite face what is probably their biggest challenge each of the 2011 Bartercard Baywide Premier rugby competition when they meet in the Eastern Bay of Plenty today.

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Both sides sit just outside the top four with the winner of this weekend's encounter staying in contention to play post section rugby on the last Saturday in July.

The game at the Princess Street Reserve in Opotiki matches up two of the real battlers of the Baywide top echelon.

In the past five years, Opotiki has worked its way from the Baywide second echelon to become a genuine Premier contender.

One young man in the Opotiki side who has impressed many in Baywide rugby this season is Te Amo Wilbore.

He trialled for the New Zealand Under-20 team earlier in the year and eight tries in the Baywide title race indicates he is a real match winner.

A rock solid kicker when games are close is a valuable addition in any team.

Sam Howe, who has been one of the backbones of the Eastern Bay side in recent years, ensures that the opposition is wary of making mistakes in the Opotiki half, with his pinpoint kicking accuracy.

Waikite, which held the top spot in the Premier ranks a decade ago, battled back from division one last season to be a hard nut to crack in the Premier ranks this year.

The Rotorua based side is built around an uncompromising forward pack that takes few backward steps.

Waikite also possess an outstanding goal kicker in Quaid Langeveldt, who has posted over eight points this season. The Baywide newcomer, who is from South Africa, is another of the United Nations of rugby players who stop off to experience Bay of Plenty rugby each year.

A top of the table clash will take place in Rotorua, when defending champions Tauranga Sports meet Whakarewarewa at their headquarters at Puarenga Park. While Tauranga Sports has slipped 11 points clear of the early season front-runners, the Rotorua side will have no better opportunity to bridge the gap than today.

Plenty of motivation will be provided for Tauranga Sports by the memories of the first time that the two sides met this season. The 24-14 win to Whakarewarewa was made even sweeter with victory taking place at Tauranga Sports headquarters at the Tauranga Domain.

Te Puke and Rangataua, who share fourth equal on the points standings, will have plenty to play for at Murray Salt Stadium in Te Puke. There is always plenty at stake when the two sides meet with this weekend's encounter cementing the winner in outright fourth place.

Mount Maunganui will be wary of Te Puna when they meet after the Maramatanga Park based team upset Whaka two weeks ago, while Whakatane Marist should give Rotoiti who have slipped down the standings in recent weeks a good run in the Eastern Bay of Plenty.

A top of the table clash will take centre stage in division one. Te Teko, which has regained the competition lead, will face Ngongotaha who sit a solitary point in arrears of the Eastern Bay side, on the outskirts of the Sulphur City.

Greerton Marist will a good chance to cement their top four place when they travel to Te Puke to play Rangiuru, Reporoa at home could face a real challenge from the improving Ruatoki team, Marist St Michaels meet Paroa, with Kahukura at home to Katikati.

Te Puke Sports Colts who are the only Baywide team still with a season unbeaten record, should prove too strong for Marist St Michaels. The Te Puke side have their sight firmly fixed on back to back Baywide age group titles.

Greerton Marist host Tauranga Sports in a match that could go down to the wire, Te Puna and Mount Maunganui should also have a close contest, with Opotiki taking on the vastly improved Rangataua in Opotiki.

BOPRU Bartercard Baywide Draws June 18

Premier (2.45pm) Whakatane Marist v Rotoiti, Rugby Park; Te Puna v Mount Maunganui, Maramatanga Park; Whakarewarewa v Tauranga Sports, Puarenga Park; Te Puke Sports v Rangataua. Murray Salt Stadium; Opotiki v Waikite, Princess Street Reserve.

Points Table: Tauranga Sports 49, Whakarewarewa 38, Mount Maunganui 38, Rangataua 34, Te Puke Sports 34, Opotiki 26, Waikite 25, Rotoiti 24, Te Puna 15, Whakatane Marist 12.

Division One (2.45pm) Rangiuru v Greerton Marist, Jamieson Oval; Reporoa v Ruatoki, Reporoa; Marist St Michaels v Paroa, Marist Park; Kahukura v Katikati, Kuirau Park; Ngongotaha v Te Teko, Ngongotaha Domain.

Points Table: Te Teko 41, Ngongotaha 40, Greerton Marist 38 Katikati 37, Marist St Michaels 36, Kahukura 32, Paroa 24, Rangiuru 21, Reporoa 13, Ruatoki 6.

Colts (1pm) Section One: Greerton Marist v Tauranga Sports, Greerton Park; Te Puna v Mount Maunganui, Maramatanga Park; Marist St Michaels v Te Puke Sports, Marist Park; Opotiki v Rangataua, Princess Street Reserve.

Points Table: Te Puke Sports 15, Mount Maunganui 10, Rangataua 9, Greerton Marist 9, Tauranga Sports 8, Te Puna 6, Marist St Michaels 2, Opotiki 1.

Section Two: Ruatoki v Rotoiti, Tuhoe Park; Waikite v Edgecumbe, Bellvue Road; Judea v Whakatane Marist, Maharaia Winiata Park; Whakarewarewa the bye.

Points Table: Edgecumbe 14, Ruatoki 10, Waikite 6, Whakatane Marist 6, Whakarewarewa 6, Rotoiti 5, Judea 0.