The Back Office Services Railway Cup semi-finals take top billing in Manx football this Saturday.

Two mouth-watering ties look in store as the top-four at the Canada Life Premier League’s halfway point look to book a place in Boxing Day’s final.

At the Bowl, St Mary’s host St George’s, while in the afternoon’s earlier kick-off, Peel entertain Corinthians at Douglas Road.

The clash of the Saints at the national stadium comes off the back of two close league encounters between the pair.

After a 1-1 draw on the opening day of the campaign, St Mary’s triumphed 3-2 at Glencrutchery Road in the reverse fixture only a couple of weeks ago.

St Mary’s will hope to have player-manager Alex Harrison, Jack McVey, Frank Jones and Josh Thomas back from their trip to Liam Doyle’s wedding in the United States for this encounter with the former trio’s old club.

St George’s should have the versatile Sam Caine back in the selection mix after he shook off an injury, while Maleigh Freestone is in contention to play after impressing in training in recent weeks.

Fellow Geordies’ youngsters Joel Ibanez, Lewis Bridson and Jay Skelcher-Maxwell will be looking to bounce back after exiting the FA County Youth Cup with the Isle of Man under-18s last weekend.

Both sides look well matched going into the 2.30pm kick-off suggesting another close encounter that might need extra time to separate the pair.

In the Sunset City another close game looks in prospect as Steve Falconer’s in-form Peel play Corinthians.

The westerners have won their last nine league fixtures to rocket to the top of the standings.

The pair have only met once this season, that ending in a high-scoring 3-3 draw, Rhys Oates 77th-minute equaliser securing a point for the westerners that day.

If Peel are the island’s form side then Oates is its form player, the former St John’s forward impressing since his summer switch from Mullen-e-Cloie and earning October’s CLPL Player of the Month award.

Corinthians will hope to have their influential attacking trio of Sean Doyle, Dan Simpson and Ste Whitley fit for the encounter as they aim to retain the silverware they won earlier this year.

Like the other semi, this 1.15pm kick-off looks finely poised although Peel’s recent good run might just give them the momentum needed to secure a place in the final.

l Twitter updates from both games @manxfootypod