The joint competition leaders are on eight points after an unbeaten start to the season but on Saturday both teams have the opportunity to move further ahead.

Both are up against opponents just below them on the ladder, so victories would increase their lead at the top.

But the competition front runners will have their work cut out for them on day two of their respective round three encounters.

The squads are locked in evenly poised battles with Wests defending their 238 against City United (five points) at Robins Oval while Norths need to chase down the 270 posted by Tenambit Morpeth (five) at Lorn Park.

Wests skipper Andrew Trappel said he knows the importance of this weekend and the way a positive result would impact upon the competition standings early in the season.

“If we win and Norths win we would go to 12 (points) and they (City and Tenambit Morpeth) would still be on six,” Trappel said.

“That is a big jump after three games.”

Trappel said he wanted to avoid a loss this weekend and the congestion it would cause at the pointy end of the ladder.

“You could have six teams on nine points,” Trappel said.

“It is a tough competition.”

Losses for Wests and Norths would leave them on nine points, which would mean City and Tenambit would move to nine as well following wins.

Raymond Terrace (5) and Eastern Suburbs (5) also look poised to pounce and would also shift to nine points if they successfully chase down their targets against Thornton Park and Weston respectively.

Raymond Terrace need 51 runs with eight wickets in hand at Jack Collins Oval to secure first innings points while on the other side of the city at Kurri Central the Griffins require 143 runs and have eight wickets spare.

But it will be the clash between Wests and the defending premiers in central Maitland that will be the centre of attention on Saturday.