University still needs a lot to go its way to make the semi-finals, but it is doing everything it can to make it into the top four.
A thrilling final round has seven teams in contention and the permutations around which clubs will play in the semis are still many.
Uni coach Damien Wright believes his sixth-placed side needs an outright victory to jump Kingborough (fourth) and Glenorchy (fifth) – and only then if both sides lose as well.
His side posted a modest 260 batting first, but then the Lions roared back into the contest to have ladder-leader North Hobart 5-93 at stumps ahead of the final day of roster play next Saturday.
“It probably went the way we needed it to that's for sure, but I guess there's still a lot that that has to happen for us to try and get into the to the finals,” Wright said.
“At the end we've probably left our run a little bit too late, but we've obviously got to go for maximum points and certainly we'll try and do that next weekend.”
After being left out of the Tigers team, opener Tim Ward took his frustrations out on the Demons, making 103, while skipper Param Uppal continued his stellar, consistent season with 67.
“I feel for Tim, getting left out, but with a quality player like Matthew Wade coming back in [to the Tigers] somebody's got to to make and so unfortunately for Wardy and very very fortunately us at Uni he's come back.”
It was then young gun Louis Smith’s turn to take over, with the young bowling all-rounder taking 3-23 to leave the Demons reeling at 5-93 at stumps.
“He's been on restrictions, coming back from this surgery on his knee, and I thought he's bowling on the weekend was great,” Wright said.
“It's great to see him get three wickets and have us in a really commanding position in the game, but more importantly it's really nice to see him get some rhythm and get some reward for what's been a pretty frustrating and difficult time for him.
“He's very promising, a big strong kid too, and he's just finished year 12 last year and I would really hope that Tassie would look at him for one of these rookie contracts because he's a player of the future.”
A spanner in the works for Uni could be Kingborough, which is in a strong position in its game with the other side chasing a last round miracle to make finals, South Hobart-Sandy Bay.
The Sharks were rolled for 232 as opening bowler Cameron Walter (3-45), playing-coach Thomas Martyn (3-37) and spinner Niv Radhakrishan (3-65) shared nine wickets between them.
The Knights chase started well and will resume next week at 1-118 with Jake Weatherald in ominous form on 54 not out from just 34 balls with four fours and four sixes.
Glenorchy has a decent chase on its hands with Clarence 8-286 at stumps, but it could have been a lot worse for the Pies with the Roos openers Connor O’Brien (84) and Caiden Workman (72) putting on 140 for the first wicket.
It was spinner Alex Wynwood who led the Pies fightback, taking 5-59 from 21 overs.
The Greater Northern Raiders have a fight on their hands to hold onto third spot against bottom placed New Town.
The Raiders were restricted to 254, and the Bucks were 1-54 at the end of play.
The women’s one-day final dress rehearsal resulted in a big win to the star-studded North Hobart side, giving New Town plenty to think about ahead of next Sunday’s decider.
The Demons posted a formidable 287 with solid contributions from Nicola Carey (58), Melodie Armstrong (43), Naomi Stalenberg (37) and Mia Barwick (31 not out).
Barwick then also chimed in with the ball, taking three wickets as New Town never really threatened the target, being dismissed for 178 despite a fighting 79 from opener Tanja Lee.
The dead-rubber contest between Clarence and the Raiders, resulted in a comfortable DLS victory to the Radars.