Top 4 spots sewn up

The National Sports

WITH one round remaining in the Digicel Cup top five places are all but confirmed with the Enga Mioks (26 points) and Agmark Gurias (25) in the running for the minor premiership.
Defending champions Lae Tigers (22) secured their playoff berth with a 48-22 thrashing of likely wooden spooners the Chimbu Warriors (4) and a re-invigorated Waghi Tumbe (23) are set to end the regular season with their highest position on the standings in third place, if they beat the Hela Wigmen (17) in Port Moresby on Sunday.
The only finals spot undecided is fifth place with the Goroka Lahanis (19) getting one hand on it thanks to their gutsy 16-10 win over fellow top five contender the Wigmen at the National Football Stadium last round.
The Port Moresby Vipers (15), who needed to beat the Mioks in Wabag over the weekend to stay in contention, failed to repeat their one-point upset of the competition leaders in round 8 and as such are out of the running but coach Joe Sipa’s men would want to finish off on a positive note as well as dent the Lahanis’ chances of making the final five when the teams meet this weekend in the Eastern Highlands capital.
The Mioks are favoured to claim the minor premiership because they take on cellar dwellers the Warriors while the Gurias face the Tigers in what is expected to be one of the games of round 18 at Kalabond Oval in Kokopo.
The Mioks could still take the minor premiership if they lose to the Warriors provided it is not by more than 18 points (highly unlikely) and the Gurias draw with the Tigers.
The battle to avoid the wooden spoon looks likely to be won by the Gulf Isou (6) who take on the inconsistent Muruks at the NFS while the Warriors have to match brawn with the high-flying Mioks in Minj.
The Tumbe with star Garry Lo are primed for their first finals appearance and will get the perfect work out against the Wigmen who still have a mathematical chance to sneak into the five with a win and if the Lahanis lose.
Standings: Enga Mioks 26, Agmark Gurias 25, Waghi Tumbe 23, Lae Tigers 22, Goroka Lahanis 19, Hela Wigmen 17, Port Moresby Vipers 15, Mendi Muruks 13, Gulf Isou, 6, Chimbu Warriors 4.
Rd 18 Fixtures: Sun, Aug 5 – Lahanis v Vipers, Gurias v Tigers, Isou v Muruks, Wigmen v Tumbe, Warriors v Mioks.