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By RugbyWA Media
Contributors: Josh Zimmerman
Nedlands vs Palmyra
The Foreshore – 3.30pm
First Round: Palmyra 21 – 34 Nedlands
Sixth placed Palmyra convincingly beat Perth Bayswater 54 – 19 to keep its playoff hopes alive but must now travel to the Foreshore to take on the minor Premiers who have not dropped a game at home all season.
Nedlands are coming off a 26 – 12 victory over Kalamunda and have already sewn up top spot with two games to play, although they will no doubt be looking to carry some momentum with them in to the finals.
Realistically speaking Palmyra will need to win both of its remaining games to have any chance of reeling in the likes of Wests, Cottesloe and Associates who are all four points ahead on the ladder.
Paly will be dangerous and desperate and if Nedlands fields a weakened side to rest players ahead of the finals an upset could well be on the cards in this one.
Perth Bayswater vs Associates
Pat O'Hara Reserve – 3.30pm
First Round: Associates 37 – 24 Perth Bayswater
Associates is third and holds a strong percentage advantage over its 44 point ladder neighbours Cottesloe and Wests Subiaco but will endeavour to avoid having to rely on that supremacy by securing a victory in this one.
Perth Bayswater is still chasing a win that would ensure they do not end up back on the bottom after a season that started so brightly.
Rockingham vs Kalamunda
Lark Hill – 3.30pm
First Round: Kalamunda 17 – 15 Rockingham
The only game of the round that has no bearing on the final playoff picture takes place at Lark Hill between two sides that would be disappointed with the outcome of their respective seasons.
Rocky put in a good performance against the white hot University last weekend and would love to balance the 2011 ledger against the Bulls after they were edged the first meeting between these sides in Round 8.
Kalamunda will be motivated by the fact that it can still avoid finishing last with victory in its two remaining games.
Rockingham have a tendency to match the quality of their opposition – good or bad – so expect this one to be exciting even though it doesn't count towards the playoffs.
University vs Cottesloe
McGillivray Oval – 3.30pm
First Round: Cottesloe 31 – 42 University
Cottesloe has won six in a row to revive its season but now faces its toughest test to date in the form of second placed University which is on a five match winning streak of its own.
Cottesloe ground out a 14 – 5 win over Wanneroo in round 16 to hold on to fourth but with Wests Subiaco, Palmyra and even the Roo Dogs in striking distance will need to continue its magical run if it wishes to keep its destiny in its own hands going in to round 18.
University has wrapped up second and may, like Nedlands, be tempted to rest players ahead of the finals.
On the other hand, beating Cottesloe and possibly knocking them out of finals contention may even be a more attractive option given the Seagulls proven track record in the playoffs.
Wanneroo vs Wests Subiaco
Kingsway – 3.30pm
First round: Wests Subiaco 33 – 36 Wanneroo
The first meeting between these sides produced a high scoring thriller with Wanneroo emerging eventual winners by just three points. With so much on the line for both teams excitement levels in this one are sure to reach similar heights.
For Wanneroo this game is effectively a final as defeat would scuttle any hope of making a run past next weekend. The Roo Dogs have gone off the boil a bit recently losing three of their last four but are back home at Kingsway and will play with the ferocity of a side whose season is in the balance.
Wests Subiaco are fifth and will be just as desperate to win this game to keep up with Cottesloe and Associates going in to round 18. Wests have also been disappointing of late losing to Rockingham in round 14 and then getting comprehensively outplayed by Soaks on the weekend.
Wests' Coach Steven Montgomery said his side was looking forward to this game because they felt they let themselves down in the round 8 meeting so expect this one to go right down to the wire.
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