Mioks face Warriors

ENGA Mioks face a moment of truth on Sunday when they take on Simbu Warriors in the bemobile Cup’s final round.
Currently on 23 points, and in equal second, the Toyota franchise will need to win handsomely and hope other results go their way in order to accomplish their first goal – the minor premiership.
The good thing is they are playing at home, and as has been the case all season, that means a win is all but assured.
If the trend were to continue, Mioks will finish with 25 on the ladder and a guaranteed top three spot depending how Mendi Muruks and Rabaul Gurias fare in their matches.
Muruks and Gurias play relatively easier matches against the Mt Hagen Kuris and Lae Bombers respectively.
Wooden spooners Kuris take on Muruks in Lae while Bombers meet Gurias in Kokopo.
But if the Mioks think the Warriors will submit in Wabag, then they will have another thing coming as the desperate Simbus are also aiming to make the top five.
Warriors, on 19 points, can only make the bemobile Cup playoffs if they defeat Mioks by healthy margin and if the Port Moresby Vipers, who are on 21points, lose to badly to the visiting Goroka Lahanis in Port Moresby.
It is a long shot but stranger things have happened.
 This will also be an opportunity for the recently maligned Aipus Oval home crowd to back both sides, as is the tradition, in this crunch game.
The teams which are already guranteed playoff spots regardless of the weekend results are Muruks, Gurias, Mioks and Lahanis while Vipers can still make it with a a loss provided they lose by a small margin.
Warriors are at long odds but still have a mathematical chance.
The out-of-contention teams are City Rangers, Bombers and Kuris.
 The one incentive for all teams is the selection of the bemobile Cup All Stars side to play the national zone side later this month.
Players are sure to put in their best efforts in the hopes of getting into the competition’s representative team.
The  bemobile Cup points ladder heading into round 18: Muruks (25), Gurias (23), Mioks (23), Lahanis (22), Vipers (21), Warriors (19), Rangers (15), Bombers (10) and Kuris (8).