All to play for at the top

THE only certainty in the first stage of the Investec Men's League Division One is that Investec Colombians Rebel Alliance will finish bottom. Both Tigers and The Clubhouse Unwantables are still able to win the league, while Investec Colombians and Mosgrove's Yobbos can mathematically still finish second.

Unwantables face the prospect of playing two games on consecutive days, knowing that they have to win both to keep alive their slim hopes of taking the first stage of the league. But they also know that losing both would see them drop to second bottom, with only a game in hand over Colombians and Yobbos who would be ahead of them.

Tomorrow they face Yobbos at Foote's Lane. It is likely to be a tasty affair, with Yobbos' Nic Chambers, the league's top scorer, lining up against his brother, Jamie. Both are extremely competitive and there will not be much sibling friendship until after the game.

The Unwantables back line will have to be on top form as the Yobbos front man has been by far and away the best forward in the league this season. Without him, Yobbos would have scored fewer goals than the league's bottom side, Rebel Alliance, showing how important he is. Certainly his pace and movement create space for others behind him.

For Unwantables, Andy Alford, Adam Kitching and Phil Ogier will be the main threat. Kitching will be looking to use his pace to get in behind Yobbos' defence, which although well organised is not the fleetest of foot.

Alford will be a threat on his reverse or strong side in open play and is also a very good short-corner striker. As this will be his last weekend in the island before going travelling, it can be expected that he will be looking to add to the six goals he has scored this season.

The second game for Unwantables takes place on Sunday, against title rivals Tigers. If Unwantables beat Yobbos on Saturday there will be added pressure on Tigers - they had gone all season unbeaten until last weekend when a wobble against Colombians gave Unwantables a glimmer of hope.

Again this match is likely to be hotly contested and is potentially the most important game of the season.

If Tigers lose to Unwantables, they will have to beat Yobbos next weekend to ensure Unwantables then have to beat both Colombians and Colombians Rebel Alliance next weekend.

In this weekend's other match, Colombians take on Rebel Alliance. The first time these two met, Rebel Alliance upset the form book by running out

3-2 winners and stunning Colombians. Since then, the senior side have steadily improved while Rebel Alliance have struggled to get close to gaining even a point as they continue their steep learning curve.

Colombians should be able to field a full-strength side while Rebel Alliance continue to struggle to get the same 11 every week. Until they can do that, the team will not be able to operate properly as a unit.

In Division Two, title rivals Generals and Independents meet for the first time. Generals suffered their first defeat of the season last weekend against Unwantables Two and will be looking to inflict the first defeat on Mark Tanguy's men. Independents have enjoyed a good season so far having not yet lost a game.

Fast-improving Elizabeth College take on Beavers: the youngsters have started to put together a good run of results and should be too strong for their opponents.

Colombians Two, who take on Senior Vets, are almost entirely made up of players without any previous league experience yet they have shown great application in recent weeks to pick up their first win and three draws.

They will be looking to continue their improvement against Senior Vets, although the league's most-experienced team have started to show signs of improvement with the introduction of some new faces.

M&G Vets take on Unwantables Two in the final Division Two fixture. Unwantables recorded their first victory last weekend: many had expected the red-and-blacks to be challenging for the title and they will be looking for another victory against M&G Vets who have also not enjoyed the best of starts to the season.