The race for Railway Cup qualification in the Canada Life Premier League continues to heat up by the week.

With three games left to play until the qualification cut-off point, up to seven teams will feel they have a chance of snaring an invite to the top-four’s festive party.

Surprise packages Douglas Athletic currently sit second in the standings, but will face a stern test of their cup credentials this Saturday when they host Peel.

The westerners ended St Mary’s unbeaten start to the league campaign last weekend, boosting their own top-four hopes in the process.

Athletic, who have only lost twice thus far, will be aiming to put up a good showing in the match at Springfield Road in what is the start of a run that sees them face Peel, St Mary’s and St George’s in successive weeks.

After St Mary’s defeat last weekend, St George’s remain the division’s only unbeaten side.

They should extend that record when they take on an out-of-sorts St John’s at Glencrutchery Road, especially with Geordies’ raft of teenagers being buoyed by the Isle of Man FA under-18 side’s FA County Youth Cup win last weekend.

Rushen United have the most ground to make up of their Railway Cup contenders. Liam Cowin’s Spaniards currently sit in seventh, four points behind fourth-placed DHSOB albeit with a game in hand.

The Croit Lowey outfit travel to Corinthians this week in arguably the game of the day with the Whites only a place above them in the standings.

Both sides will know defeat would prove a body blow to their cup qualification hopes and this should ensure a cracking game at Ballafletcher.

At the foot of the league, two of the sides that have yet to register a point go head-to-head.

Rock-bottom Douglas Royal host promoted Castletown in a game that looks very finely poised.

Town have only scored two goals in six outings which is a worrying stat if they are to beat the drop.

Marown are the top-flight’s other point-less side. They travel to fourth-bottom Laxey in a fixture that might just cough up a valuable point for Dave Brew’s promoted side.