Not only are there teams fighting to get to play finals hockey, there are other teams desperate to move up the ladder into a higher position, and grab the rewards on offer.

With several semi-finals and prelim finals ending in a draw after extra time in recent years, many a team has been disappointed, so there there are real advantages in a team finishing in a higher position at the end of the minor round.

However in the case of the Div 1 men, even if St Andrews win by a huge margin tomorrow night against United, it still won’t be enough to topple Risdon who are way out on percentage following last week’s 23-nil win.

And so Risdon will finish the season as minor premiers and will go into the finals as slight favorites, but its no certainty.

Risdon’s game this Saturday against Park Royal Panthers won’t affect the ladder, but it may have some impact on finals confidence, especially if Panthers do what they did a few weeks ago and beat the Tigers again.

Certainly makes for an interesting finish to the minor round.

St Andrews have stitched up the No. 1 spot in the Div 1 women, four points clear of second placed Park Royal Panthers who are in no danger of losing the double chance this weekend.

This week’s games won’t affect any ladder positions but once again it may impact on teams confidence factor leading into the semi’s next week.

Clare Valley Cruisers will be playing finals and being a very competitive side will be no pushover for St Andrews tomorrow night.

But St Andrews have hit 49 goals this year in 17 games of hockey, which is close to 3 goals average per week. They have consistent goal scorers in Brooke Smith, Nicole Burley, Kim Ramsay and Sharon Ciampi and so Clare defenders will need to keep a close guard on these players in particular or it could cost them dearly.

Strykers will be out with all guns blazing for its Div 3 men’s hockey game against Saints at 12.30pm. A loss and they won’t get to play finals, but if they win and Rovers lose to St Andrews Div 4 team, they will contest the semi’s next week.