On Saturday afternoon the top three sides have one-day fixtures against the trio of teams currently locked in a battle to claim the fourth and final spot in the semi-finals.

Frontrunners City United host sixth-placed Thornton Park at Robins Oval, defending premiers Northern Suburbs are away to fourth-placed Western Suburbs at Coronation Oval and Kurri Weston, in a share of second, are at home to fifth-placed Eastern Suburbs.

There is a gap of 15 points between the best three and the next three on the competition ladder with four rounds remaining, which includes two 50-over encounters and a pair of two-day matches taking out the month of February.

In the breakaway group City (53) has a 10-point buffer on Norths and Kurri Weston (43) while Wests (28) hold the advantage over challengers Easts (22) and Thornton (19).

City, Norths and Kurri Weston are yet to have their bye in the second half of the season but Wests, Easts and Thornton have.

No points are awarded for the bye.

Raymond Terrace have the bye this week and are still in search of their maiden win in the first grade competition this ­summer despite remaining undefeated in the preliminary rounds of Sunday’s Twenty 20 carnival and progressing to the semis on March 8. 

Saturday’s matches start at noon.

In other Maitland cricket news, Western Suburbs will ­contest the Hunter Valley Cup semi-final against Lisarow Ourimbah on the Central 

Coast this Sunday with the ­winner ­progressing to meet reigning champions Northern Suburbs in the decider at Mulbring next weekend on February 8. 

FIXTURES

City United v Thornton Park at Robins Oval

Kurri Weston v Eastern Suburbs at Kurri Central

Western Suburbs v Northern Suburbs at Coronation Oval

Raymond Terrace BYE