The Ultra Football Central League is set for a thrilling conclusion on Saturday with the two top sides squaring off in a title decider.

Miramar Rangers and Western Suburbs will meet at David Farrington Park at 2.30pm with the winner set to take the season spoils.

A draw will be good enough for Miramar to secure their first title since 2014 due to their superior goal difference.

Wests must win to make it back-to-back titles, as well as their third championship in four seasons.

It will be a battle of youth versus experience, with Wests having an average squad age of 19 years, five months, while Miramar sit at 23 years, nine months.

Miramar have been a free scoring side this season with 59 goals in 17 matches.

They have the leading scorer in the league in Sam Mason-Smith, who has netted 19 times. They also have Joao Moreira, who sits fifth in the Golden Boot race with 11 goals.

They have been tight at the back as well, conceding just 17 goals.

Wests’ leading scorer is Ryan Feutz with 10, which accounts for almost a third of Wests’ 33 goals this campaign.

Wests are even more stingy at the back than Miramar, allowing just 10 goals.

The two sides met on August 9 at Endeavour Park, with Miramar winning 1-0.

At the other end of the table, Stop Out have to beat Napier City Rovers away from home and hope Wairarapa United don’t beat Waterside Karori in order to avoid relegation.

They are two points behind Wairarapa, but do have the slight advantage on goal difference, so a win for Stop Out and a draw for Wairarapa would see Stop Out avoid the drop.

The remainder of the round sees Petone take on Lower Hutt City and North Wellington host Wellington Olympic.

All final-round matches kickoff at 2.30pm.

The first leg of the Central League playoff also takes place on Sunday, with Wainuiomata travelling to Taranaki to take on New Plymouth Rangers at Merrilands Domain at 1pm.

Ultra Football Central League round 18 fixtures (all Saturday at 2.30pm)

Miramar Rangers v Western Suburbs, David Farrington Park

Napier City Rovers v Stop Out, Park Island

Wairarapa United v Waterside Karori, Masterton Memorial Turf

North Wellington v Wellington Olympic, Alex Moore Artificial

Petone v Lower Hutt City, Petone Memorial Turf

Central League playoff

New Plymouth Rangers v Wainuiomata, Merrilands Domain, Sunday 1pm

Article added: Thursday 08 October 2020