The penultimate round of the 2021/22 Mount Gambier and District Tennis Association season arrives this Saturday and the big fish in the Division 1 pond meet one last time before finals.

Centrals/Uniting and Reidy Park are the short-priced favourites to meet in this summer’s big dance and the respective captains Mark Heemskerk and Zayne Young will love nothing more than to snag some bragging rights from one another.

Although Centrals/Uniting sit proudly on top of the ladder with its title not under threat, picking a winner between the rivals is far from easy with the head-to-head record currently sitting at two all.

Heemskerk’s team got the upper hand in the opening battle winning double the amount of sets before Reidy Park hit back hard with a 10-2 triumph in the rematch.

These clashes laid the foundations for the rivalry with the reigning premiers being challenged by the up-and-coming Reidy Park outfit.

Centrals/United reversed the 10-2 score line at home just before the Christmas break, while the return clash in the new year was the closest yet.

After 10 sets the scoreboard was all locked up with the overall battle set to come down to the final two rubbers which put the pressure on the women’s doubles teams.

But Emily Edwards, Sharon Edwards and Jayme Young stepped up for Reidy Park to take out the honours which sets up a captivating contest for fans at Olympic Park.

West Gambier and Glencoe face off in the other contest at Malseed Park and the battle looms as the latter’s last realistic chance of scoring a long awaited victory.

After winning the minor premiership last season, Glencoe has fallen from grace and lost 12 games, with its only high point a thrilling draw.

Dylan Childs’ team can use the tie as a positive because it was against West back in round 12.

Glencoe will come out swinging, but could be facing West at the wrong time after Jo Sealey’s team overcame a strong Reidy Park outfit on Saturday.