Te Puna and Whakatane Marist have one last throw of the dice as they battle to avoid relegation from the Premier division of the Bartercard Baywide rugby competition.

The cutthroat element of the premier championship means that the team that finishes last in the 2011 premier ranks will play in division one next season.

A head-to-head battle between the Western and Eastern Bay contenders for the wooden spoon will take place in the last round of the regular season when Te Puna hosts Whakatane Marist at Maramatanga Park.

An upset victory over Whakarewarewa in the second round showed that Te Puna are never overawed by the big occasion.

The team is built around a strong forward pack with former Steamer Aiden Kuka in charge of his side's engine room.

Another to make a big contribution is halfback Chad Tuoro, who has given the backline renewed momentum since returning from injury

However, the home side will need to be extremely careful in their own half as Whakatane Marist has a real game winner in their ranks. Craig Edwards, who directs Whakatane, plays from first five and is an ace goal and can be hard to contain with the ball in hand.

At the top of table, defending champion Tauranga Sports, which is chasing a remarkable five straight Baywide premier titles has already booked a home semi-final.

While Whakarewarewa look to be Tauranga Sports' opponents in the first round of post section play, the real race at the top is between Te Puke Sports and Mount Maunganui for the second home semi-final.

Neither contender will have an easy time with Mount Maunganui taking on Rangataua in a Western Bay derby at Blake Park, while Te Puke Sports will travel to play Opotiki in the Eastern Bay of Plenty.

Rangataua will be playing for pride in their last game of the season and will want to reverse the 27-21 first round loss. However, the Mount will be desperate to play at home in next week's semi-finals, and will throw everything that they have at Rangataua to win the encounter. One Rangataua player they will need to be wary of is fullback Rory McConnochie, who has nailed kicks at goal with great success all season.

The match-up between Opotiki and Te Puke Sports will also see two ace goal kickers in action.

Te Puke's Nick McCashin is a game winner with both the boot and the ball in hand, with Opotiki kicker Sam Howe a real sharp shooter under pressure,

Tauranga Sports should re-ink their credentials as the top qualifier against Rotoiti at Emery Park, with Whakarewarewa meeting Waikite in Rotorua.

While Te Teko and Greerton Marist have already booked home semi-finals – Ngongotaha, Katikati and Marist St Michaels are locked in a battle for the last two post section places.

Katikati will want to repeat their first round defeat of Te Teko, while Marist St Michaels needs to beat fellow contender Ngongotaha to finish in the top four.

The colts semi-finals will be played out on Saturday with defending champion Te Puke Sports hosting Te Puna and Greerton Marist and Tauranga Sports squaring off at Greerton Park.

BOPRU Bartercard Baywide Draws July 23

Premier (2.45pm) Mount Maunganui v Rangataua, Blake Park; Te Puna v Whakatane Marist, Maramatanga Park; Waikite v Whakarewarewa, Bellvue Road, Rotoiti v Tauranga Sports, Emery Park; Opotiki v Te Puke Sports. Princess Street Reserve.

Points Table: Tauranga Sports 63, Te Puke 56, Mount Maunganui 55, Whakarewarewa 51, Rangataua 45, Opotiki 39, Rotoiti 34, Waikite 27, Te Puna 24, Whakatane Marist 22,

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

Points Table: Te Teko 61, Greerton Marist 59, Ngongotaha 52, Katikati 52, Marist St Michaels 48, Rangiuru 42, Paroa 35, Kahukura 35, Reporoa 19, Ruatoki 8.

Division Two Playoffs (2.45pm unless specified) Murupara v Arataki, Ngati Manawa Park; Matakana Island v Galatea, Matakana Island (1pm) Poroporo Red v Eastern Pirates, Poroporo Park.

Colts Semi-Finals - 1pm (Section One) Te Puke Sports v Te Puna, Murray Salt Stadium; Greerton Marist v Tauranga Sports, Greerton Park (Section Two) Ruatoki v Whakarewarewa, Tuhoe Park; Waikite v Edgecumbe, Westbrook2.

Senior Reserve Playoffs (1pm) Waikite v Tauranga Sports, Bellvue Road; Mount Maunganui v Poroporo Blue, Blake Park; Opotiki v Ngongotaha, Princess Street Reserve.