Nearing the half way point of the SPCU North East Championship season, and you might just expect to have a clearer idea of who is most likely to be pushing for that vital, single play off place.
But as yet there is no clear indication of anyone making a major push for the ultimate prize of a place in the Eastern Premier League, by far and away, the top league in Scottish club cricket.
Leaders Perth Doocot have the resources, but their early season defeat at the hands of struggling Stoneywood-Dyce does not suggest they are tailor made for the awesome task of trips to the likes of Grange or Heriots to name but two.
The same could be said of second placed Dundee High, so what does that say about the four North East challengers, including Aberdeenshire who sit in third place, no doubt still shocked after their defeat by an understrength Huntly last week.
The position might look a little clearer after this coming weekend when Jack Mitchell takes his Huntly shock troops to the Doocot, looking to improve on their current position of fifth.
Just along the road, Lewis Munro will be looking to fire up his Aberdeenshire troops at Dalnacraig where they bid to stifle the progress of Dundee High, while putting last week’s disappointment behind them.
Crescent-Dunecht, the fourth of the North East challengers, can build on their fourth position should they as expected beat Freuchie at Brechin, while Stoneywood-Dyce attempt to better their eighth place at the Peoples Park where they meet Meigle.
What all four North East teams need from now on in is consistency, which at the end of the day leads to a high placing in a very competitive league. The stakes are high; for cricket in the area will be defined by the ability to reach the Eastern Premier League.