While Fernhill sit near the top of the ladder, Picton remain just out of the top six and may have to struggle to reach the finals.

The absence through injury of captain Stuart Lowrie for much of the season, as well as the loss of players to NSW Premier League team Macarthur Rams, has put Picton in a battling position.

In a rebuilding season, each game will be a crunch game for Picton in its bid to still be playing come finals time.

With a record of four wins, one draw and six losses, Picton has scored 23 goals this season.

Their downfall has been allowing 19 goals against them.

The Shire’s Australian Football representatives, Wollondilly Knights, are finding life difficult with the move up from reserve grade to first grade in this season’s South Coast Australian Football League.

Having won two of their six games this season, the Knights will be hoping for a third win against bottom club, the Albatrosses. But the Knights’ season is far from finished, as they need only a few more wins to put them in a position to challenge for a finals’ berth.

It’s derby time on Sunday in the Group 6 Country Rugby league first grade competition.

Comfortably leading the league and looking for an unbeaten run this season, Thirlmere/Tahmoor will host rivals Picton at Thirlmere Sportsground.

On paper the result looks a foregone conclusion in the Roosters’ favour, but the good thing for Picton is they are playing on grass.

Picton seem to be hitting some form and are capable of scoring plenty of points as their record this season shows.

Although fourth on the ladder, Picton have scored 202 points, a feat only Thirlmere/Tahmoor have bettered. But they have allowed their opposition to also score 202 points.

Picton’s 30-28 win against Oakdale must have given them some confidence.

However, the Thirlmere/Tahmoor team does look unbeatable. Only a bad run of injuries or suspensions should deny them the premiership this year.

Wollondilly White Waratahs’ third grade rugby union team are in the running for the Illawarra Rugby competition minor premiership.

The Waratahs top the table, the only blemish on their record being a 27-25 defeat against Shoalhaven.

The Waratahs have a well-earned break with the bye this weekend and will host Engadine Heathcote at Hannaford Oval Wilton on June 21.