Fierce rivals and 2005 Tooheys New Cup Grand Final combatants Sydney University and Eastwood go head to head on Saturday in the most long-awaited clash of the 2006 Shute Shield.

The two teams occupy first and second positions in Pool B, with the Students in front on 18 points, one ahead of the Woods on 17.

And while neither is yet guaranteed a spot in next month's finals, the winner out of tomorrow's game can expect to be there come the business end of the season.
Both teams take changes into this match, with the Woodies fielding a vastly different outfit to that which narrowly edged out Illawarra 37-34 last round.

Wil Brame goes to number eight in place of Leroy Houston, the young gun currently on tour with the Waratahs in New Zealand, while Australian under 19 representatives Josh Holmes and Lachlan Turner make their first club appearances of the year at scrumhalf and winger respectively.

For Waratah Holmes it will be his first appearance in the blue and white since switching from Warringah in the off-season.
The Students have made just the one change, with number eight Pauliasi Taumoepeau dropping back to second grade to make way for Australian under 19 rep Lachlan McCutcheon.

Two more intriguing battles will be played out over round five, both of which will have implications in the race for the finals.
In Pool A, competition leaders and defending champions Warringah play host to a resurgent West Harbour, the Pirates overcoming a slow start to sit just one place outside the top two in their pool.

The Rats will take two changes into the match from the team that so convincingly disposed of Easts last round, with Dan Raymond returning in place of Tim Jones at prop and Shane Warman switching from fullback to flyhalf for Waratah tourist Ben Jacobs.
A settled looking Wests outfit has made just the one change, with Sione Vea lining up at number eight in place of Puni Lio.

Kickoff in the Pittwater Rugby Park clash is set down for 6pm.
Three hours earlier and thirty minutes down the road, the in-form Manly Marlins and Northern Suburbs Shoremen go head to head in a Pool B match that will go a long way to deciding the finals fate of both teams.

Manly, with NSW A back of the year Chris Siale in fine form, needs to win to keep its hopes alive, while Norths will be eyeing off victory in the hope of maintaining touch with front-runners Sydney University and Eastwood.

SHUTE SHIELD - ROUND FIVE
POOL A - SATURDAY, APRIL 29
Warringah v West Harbour - Pittwater Rugby Park, kickoff 6pm
Parramatta v Central Coast - Two Blues Park, kickoff 3pm
Gordon v Eastern Suburbs - Chatswood Oval, kickoff 3pm
POOL B - SATURDAY, APRIL 29
Sydney University v Eastwood - University Oval, kickoff 3.10pm (ABCTV Match)
Manly v Northern Suburbs - Manly Oval, kickoff 3pm
SUNDAY, APRIL 30
Illawarra v Southern Districts - WIN Stadium, kickoff 3pm