All five of this weekend's matches will have finals implications, with a fourth v fifth clash between Dapto and Wollongong crucial for both side's top four hopes.

With games against the top three teams on the ladder, Northern Districts, University and Wests, to follow for the Canaries, Dapto captain Jye Phillips recognises it's vital his team defeats the Lighthouse Keepers.

"It's a crucial match, they're only one point behind us on the table," Phillips said. "There's a few other games this week that are games that could separate us on the table, so it's crucial.

"After this game we've got a tough draw, so we need to win this one."

While Wollongong enter the clash in fifth position, they are just one point behind Dapto and two points behind third-placed Wests.

The Lighthouse Keepers have been inconsistent at times this season, captain Duncan Maddinson conceding his team has lost a number of matches they should have won.

Now, with just four matches remaining, the skipper acknowledges it's time for Wollongong to hit their straps.

"There's a few teams that are closely contested around three, four, five, six," Maddinson said. "We want to cement ourselves in the top four, so we need to beat those teams around us, this is a good week to get ahead of Dapto.

"We have a pretty balanced squad, we've lost two or three games we shouldn't have lost, where we handed victory to the other team, hopefully they don't come back to bite us. We're a top-four side, so now we have to beat a few top-four sides."

While Wollongong have struggled at times this summer, Phillips is expecting the Lighthouse Keepers to be at their best in this clash.

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He's confident, however, his squad has the batting and bowling depth to claim the crucial victory.

"When we're winning games, we're batting well and making big scores, batting teams out of games before putting pressure on with the ball," Phillips said.

"I back our batting attack against most bowling attacks in the Illawarra, so hopefully we can score some runs."

In a sign of how close the competition is, not only does this weekend feature a four v five matchup, but there will also be a three v six clash and a two v seven game.

Third-placed Wests will take on Keira, the 2019 runners-up eager to climb into the top four.

The 2019 premiers also find themselves in a precarious position, with seventh-placed Balgownie to play University.

With the Magpies struggling throughout the season, captain Jamie Fleming recognises this match could make or break their finals chances.

Northern Districts will look to maintain their lead at the top of the table in their match against Corrimal, while Helensburgh will aim to keep their slim finals chances alive when they take on 10th-placed Port Kembla.

Saturday January 25, 12pm:

NORTHERN DISTRICTS v CORRIMAL at Hollymount Park

WOLLONGONG v DAPTO at North Dalton Park

HELENSBURGH v PORT KEMBLA at Rex Jackson Oval

WESTS v KEIRA at Keira Village

UNIVERSITY v BALGOWNIE at University Oval

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