Alex Hepburn's team Willetton Dragons can take a significant step towards clinching their place in the Western Australia Cricket Assciation (WACA) first grade knockout stages if they overcome Melville on day two this weekend.
Melville ended the first day on 269-8 from 90 overs with Worcestershire all-rounder Hepburn, in his longest bowl of the winter, returning 2-44 from 16 overs.
Willetton are occupying fifth spot in the table and are on 48 points with the top six going through to the play-offs.
But Melville, currently lying in seventh spot on 38 points, will close the gap if they triumph against the Dragons.
It is a similar scenario for George Rhodes side, North Canberra Gungahlin, who will start a two day home match with Worcestershire team-mate Ed Barnard's former club, Queanbeyan District, in the ACT Premier Cricket first grade Douglas Cup.
The Northies are lying in fourth spot on 18 points with the top four going through to the latter stages of the competition.
But fifth placed Queanbeyan are only four points behind on 14 points.
Tom Fell's side, Mount Lawley, are currently holding down 12th spot in the WACA first grade and they will have to produce something extra special to defeat visiting Subiaco Floreat on day two this weeend.
Subiaco opted to bat on day one and amassed 422 all out in 89.3 overs. Fell will be looking for a substantial contribution after a challenging two months with the bat Down Under.
Tom Kohler Cadmore's side, Penrith Panthers, also have an important day in their attempt to win the Sydney Grade Cricket first grade competition.
Visiting opponents Hawkesbury scored 225-8 from 83 overs on day one of their clash with the Panthers last weekend after winning the toss.
Penrith are sitting in third spot – six points behind joint leaders Bankstown and Sydney – with the leading six teams securing a place in the knockout stages.
Academy opener Ollie Westbury's club, Hay Park, fresh from their T20 finals triumph last weekend, will visit Marist for a Bunbury and District Cricket Association first grade encounter.
