We are getting to the pointy end of the season and the battle for a final five place in both comps is hotting up. Round 17 this Saturday 24 July could make or break some team's finals chances, so plenty of interesting matches.

The John McMartin Challenge Shield has been with the Norwest/Nirimba Polecats for most of the season but the UTS Tigers 1st Division don't need this as an incentive, they travel to Kellyville for a must win game or potentially they could slip to the bottom of the ladder. Both sides have a number of players backing up from Wednesday night's City/Country clash, so there will be some tired boys come Saturday night. In 2nd Division both sides are on the same points and vying with three other teams for fifth place.

At Ollie Webb Reserve the Cumberland College Beavers host front runners West Sydney Blues in 1st Division and RailCorp Apprentices in 2nd Division. A loss to the Beavers firsts could see their finals hopes dashed, whilst the same must be said for RailCorp in the 2nds.

Sydney Uni 1st Division don't have far to go this week, they travel to Marrickville Oval and will be out to stop Lewisham Old Boys/ACU's late semi final surge and cement a third place on the ladder for themselves in the process.

Both Canberra 2nd Division teams are on the road this round, the Canberra Uni Cows travel to Newcastle Uni for its match against the Sea Horses, whilst the ANU Grizzlies trek to Diggins Oval for its clash with the CSU Bathurst Mungoes. The Sea Horses are breathing down the Cows' neck for third place and have a match up its sleeve, so a win for the home side is paramount. The Grizzlies have a tough task against the second-placed Mungoes, but a win is a must if they can escape the clutter that has developed for fifth place.

CSU Bathurst Mungoes and Canberra Uni Cows in 1st Division and Sydney Uni in 2nd Division all  have byes.