It’s been a strange few weeks in the Canada Life Premier League and I’m not just talking about the recent snowy weather.

Rewind a month and reigning champions St George’s looked favourites to retain the top-flight crown for yet another season after winning all of their games almost at a canter.

However, Geordies’ last two outings have seen them drop four points and slip to their first league defeat in more than a year.

St John’s were the first to knock the Glencrutchery Road outfit out of their stride, when they drew 3-3 with Chris Bass Sr’s men.

Indeed St George’s were lucky to come away with a point from that match with a share of the spoils as they required two late goals to scramble the draw.

Seven days later Geordies failed to replicate their Houdini act of the previous week as they crashed to a 4-0 defeat at Rushen United - the side’s heaviest reverse since 2010.

Although talk of a crisis is premature - Geordies trail leaders Corinthians and Peel by six points with three games in hand - more dropped points against St Mary’s this Saturday would certainly get alarm bells ringing.

Mary’s, who host the game at the Bowl, will be keen to throw a spanner in the works, whether they can remains to be seen.

They were outplayed by Peel for large parts of last week’s 4-2 defeat at Douglas Road, but hung on to grab a couple of goals on the break.

Player-coach Alex Harrison was missing from that match and will be a welcome return to the defence against his old side.

St George’s won the reverse fixture 3-1, expect a similar scoreline this weekend.

In a quirk of the fixture list the two sides that have inflicted the wobble on Geordies in recent weeks meet at Croit Lowey this weekend.

Rushen need to use the St George’s result as a platform for the rest of the season.

St John’s will be no pushovers though and will prove a tough nut to crack.

There’s a proverbial six-pointer on the cards at Colby as they travel to bottom side Ramsey.

Three points for the hosts could potentially drag them back out of the bottom two if other results go their way.

Ramsey also need to start picking up points and fast if they are to avoid being cut adrift at the bottom.

The Ballacloan outfit currently trail safety by five points, but do have four games in hand on most.

This one could go either way.

At the other end of the standings, Corinthians and Peel currently head the pack, albeit having played a few more games than the teams below them.

The Whites take on a resurgent Douglas Royal in the a Ballafletcher derby.

Corinthians won the early season encounter 5-0, but this one should be a tighter affair after back-to-back wins breathed some much-needed confidence into the Royal ranks and moved them out of the division’s relegation zone.

Steve Falconer’s Peel are on a roll at the moment, stringing together four straight wins.

The westerners travel to Falconer’s former club Laxey this weekend.

Paul Callow’s men are also in good fettle despite a spate of recent postponements, but will do well to stretch their unbeaten run to five against a Peel side that looks well equipped across the park.

The top flight’s other fixture this Saturday sees Douglas Athletic host DHSOB at Springfield Road.

Athletic’s fine recent form was brought to an abrupt half by Peel last time out, but this one should be much closer with Old Boys perhaps just edging it.