Elgin have every incentive to defeat Keith at Cooper Park tomorrow as victory will ensure their place in the top six of the North League for the first time since the mid-season split was introduced five years ago.
The sides have both won four and lost five matches from nine starts this term and both have amassed 22 bonus points.
Kevin Fraser, 27, the Elgin captain, reckons his team has a slight advantage going into the game.
He said: “We’ve never made the split before.
“When we got together at the start of the season that was our aim and, hopefully, with home advantage we can make it this time.
“We usually struggle a bit against Keith on their home track as you don’t get much bounce on the wicket.
“But at the Cooper Park we have a pretty true artificial wicket which is better for us.
“We have a good team spirit and have had some encouraging results in recent weeks.
“We almost chased down 236 against RAF Lossie at the beginning of July in a game where nobody gave us much of a chance and then we beat Nairn County away from home before beating Huntly a fortnight ago.”
Fraser added: “I have been scratching about a bit for runs this season.
“I have been concentrating quite a bit on the captaincy and my form has suffered.
“I think there was too much pressure on my shoulders earlier in the season, but things are progressing now and we are beginning to build some partnerships.”
At the top of the table, Buckie and Highland are also locked together after nine games.
Buckie’s 18-year-old opening bowler Callum Hart is hoping his side can go one better this season after falling at the final hurdle last year when a loss against near neighbours Fochabers handed Highland the title.
Hart said: “A win against Northern Counties this weekend is a must after losing our first game of the season to RAF Lossie a fortnight ago.
“The top of our batting order collapsed against Lossie, hopefully we can do better when we go to their place later in the season.
“I bowled pretty poorly against Lossiemouth and we gave some of the younger lads a bowl against Huntly last week.
“But I have been working hard in the nets so hopefully that will pay off against Northern Counties.”
In tomorrow’s other games, champions Highland have home advantage against fourth-placed Fochabers, Nairn County play host to Ross County and Huntly make the trip to Fort William.