ST GEORGE'S will be looking to further stamp their authority on the 2008-09 campaign on Saturday when they travel to Glen Road to take on old rivals Laxey.
The reigning Sure Mobile Premier League champions have slipped effortlessly into top gear, but will do well to maintain the division's only 100 per cent record against a Miners' side edging ever closer to its best.
Traditionally a feisty tie, this week's encounter will have the extra twist of being the first time Laxey manager Steve Falconer has faced his former club.
>>This weekend's fixturesOne player that went the other direction in the summer, Neil Brogan, won't, however, be in Chris Bass Sr's side as he is suspended.
The Glencrutchery Road outfit will also be without the mercurial Chris Bass Jr who is away on holiday and this may provide the hosts with further hope of claiming some points.
Elsewhere, Gymns will be aiming to kick-start their season when they take on St Mary's at the Bowl.
The Tromode outfit have claimed only one point thus far and will know they need to pick up more if they are to avoid being cut adrift at the table's foot.
The good form of new players Luke Fisher and Johnny Cain has been a plus for Kieron Iveagh's men, but the rest of the team will need to play well if they are to claim anything from the talented Bowl outfit.
Top-flight new boys Michael will be hoping to get their season going after a waterlogged pitch and the Manx Grand Prix curtailed the start of the westerners' return to the top tier.
This week Nick Hurt's men host Rushen, with the latter hoping to put their title bid back on track.
At Andreas Ayre welcome Corinthians in a rare 1.30pm kick-off. The Andreas club have done their best to confound the pundits' billing of pre-season relegation certainties, but will do well to maintain this form with the loss of the talismanic Jonny Cowley to long-term injury.
However, the Whites don't tend to travel well giving the Tangerines hope of adding further points their Premier League survival fund.
Fellow relegation tip Colby have also made an encouraging start to the season and this week entertain third place Union Mills.
Dave Kneale's southerners have looked solid, but may struggle against the Millers who will be looking to bounce back from defeat against DHSOB.
The division's final match of the weekend sees Peel welcome Ramsey to Douglas Road.
The three points should remain in the west, but Colin Skillcorn's men have shown on several occasions that they should not be treated lightly.
Pundits' PicksEach week Isle of Man Newspapers' resident Manx football pundits Andy Dalrymple and Rick Faragher will go head-to-head in iomtoday's results prediction game.
For each score correctly predicted the 'experts' get two points, a correct result earning them a point.
Rick F claimed the first correct score of the season last weekend with his forecast of the Ramsey v St Mary's game.
This gives the latest addition to the sports desk a one-point advantage going into the third week of picks.
Andy DSt George's 3-1 Michael P
Rushen 2-2 Peel X
Ramsey 1-2 St Mary's *
Correct result - one pointGymns 2-1 Ayre X
Corinthians 3-2 Colby *
Correct result - one pointUnion Mills 3-3 DHSOB X
Rick FSt George's 6-1 Michael P
Rushen 2-2 Peel X
Ramsey 2-3 St Mary's *
Correct score - two pointsGymns 0-1 Ayre X
Corinthians 3-1 Colby *
Correct result - one pointUnion Mills 1-1 DHSOB X
Overall standings1, Rick F 5
2, Andy D 4
Let's see what they've plumped for in this weekend's Premier League games...
Andy DPeel 3-0 Ramsey
Michael 1-1 Rushen
Laxey 1-1 St George's
Colby 0-1 Union Mills
St Mary's 2-1 Gymns
Ayre 1-1 Corinthians
Rick FPeel 4-1 Ramsey
Michael 1-2 Rushen
Laxey 0-3 St George's
Colby 2-2 Union Mills
St Mary's 5-1 Gymns
Ayre 1-0 Corinthians
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