The two unbeaten teams in the Williams Cup title race look to have the opportunity to open a gap on the chasing sides tomorrow.
Te Puke, who last won the Williams Cup nearly a decade ago in the 2003/04 season, have returned to the form that saw them test the best in Baywide cricket in previous decades. Te Puke mentor Peter Swan has moulded a team who have genuine firepower with bat and ball.
For this weekend's match-up with (Rotorua) Central, in-form batsman Mitch McCann will be away on Bay of Plenty Hawke Cup duty, but skipper Tai Bridgeman-Raison has been in outstanding form, posting nearly 300 runs with a top score of 107 not out.
Another to make his mark in the Baywide season is Jeremy Bates, who can now be classed as a genuine all rounder, after first making his mark as a bowler. A highest score of 134 not out and 22 wickets, suggest he will be a key player as Te Puke seek to continue their unbeaten run at the Te Puke Domain.
While Central languish near the bottom of the Williams Cup standings, they have three quality batsmen who, if they all fire together, would trouble any team in the competition.