Sides have the chance to make some key statements in battles to impress in leading divisions...

THE North Staffs and South Cheshire League season is now into the second half.

- CHRIS TRAVERS

There’s lots of big matches to come as sides look to maintain promotion challenges or move clear of relegation trouble.

looks at four key matches on the agenda this weekend...

CHECKLEY V MODDERSHALL & OULTON

It's the Prem A leaders playing host to fourth-placed Modd this weekend.

There's still plenty of cricket to be played, of course, but Saturday's encounter at Four Trees could be a key encounter for both sides.

Checkley embarked on a seven-game winning run to move to the summit, before seeing that sequence ended with defeat at Porthill Park last time out.

James Kettleborough’s men are in the midst of a testing run of fixtures and will be eager to bounce back against Moddershall & Oulton.

But Sam Kelsall’s visitors are hitting their straps and have chalked up three successive victories to keep themselves among the pacesetters.

And, notably, they showcased their ability last weekend when they easily beat second-placed Leek.

It was inevitable that, at some stage, Checkley’s winning run would come to an end, given the competitive nature of the division.

And Moddershall & Oulton will be eager to close the gap further to the table-toppers by picking up the points on their road trip.

Nothing will be decided on Saturday, but victory for either side will be an added confidence boost as the season continues to unfold.

That’s banking on their being a winner - or would both teams be happy with a draw?

LONGTON v AUDLEY