With the clock ticking down to the WBOPCA Reserve and B Grade Championship playoffs, there is plenty of interest in the middle of the standings, where there are must win matchups this Saturday

Multiple Reserve titleholders Mount Maunganui have slipped down the points ladder and currently occupy sixth place. They must win this weekend to keep their title aspirations alive and will face another former Reserve heavyweight.

Cadets, who sit comfortably in third place, won't surrender their standing without a dogfight and a battle royal could take place at Fergusson Park.

Two former Bay of Plenty representative players could play a big hand in deciding the outcome of the game. Cadets batsman Grant Manners sits in third place in the all-time Bay of Plenty appearance list and the Cadets stalwart is still a force to be reckoned with in the middle.

Mount Maunganui bowler Steve Charman had an outing for the Mount Reserves a couple of weeks ago, taking three wickets, and if he fronts on Saturday could really trouble the Cadets batting line-up.

Sikh Sports are another to sit outside the current top four and also face a big challenge in Katikati at home at the Uretara Domain. Katikati won the inaugural WBOPCA Shield in the pre-holiday season competition and lurk just a few points behind championship frontrunners.

R&A Sangha, defending Reserve Grade titleholders, also lead this season's title race with an unbeaten record. They will be favoured to beat Te Puke at Fergusson Park to keep their unbeaten run intact. Greerton take on Tauranga Boys College second eleven at Pemberton Park.

Two former B Grade champions sit astride to top of the B Grade points ladder. Grasshoppers and Mount Maunganui have established a six point break over Greerton, Cadets, Singh XI and defending titleholders Wanderers.

Grasshoppers square off with the Singh XI, Greerton meet Katikati on the artificial surface at Waipuna Park, Mount Maunganui should prove too strong for Albion, with Wanderers meeting Cadets.

WBOPCA Draws February 28:

WBOPCA Reserve Grade – 12pm

Mount Maunganui v Cadets, Fergusson2; Greerton v Tauranga Boys College 2^nd XI, Pemberton Park; R&A Sangha v Te Puke, Fergusson3; Katikati v Sikh Sports, Uretara Domain.

Points Table (Provisional)

R&A Sangha 80, Katikati 69, Cadets 65, Greerton 55, Sikh Sports 54, Mount Maunganui 42, Te Puke 39, TBC 2^nd XI – 29.

WBOPCA B Grade – 1pm

Grasshoppers v Singh XI, Mitchell Park; Greerton v Katikati, Waipuna1; Albion v Mount Maunganui, Fergusson1; Wanderers v Cadets, Fergusson4

Points Table (Provisional)

Grasshoppers 18, Mount Maunganui 18, Greerton 12, Cadets 12, Wanderers 12, Singh XI – 12, Katikati 6, Albion 6.