THE question everyone is asking is will it be waterlogged pitches or frozen ones that will cause disruption to the Auto Business Solutions Ltd Chippenham Sunday League fixture programme this weekend?

After six weeks of postponements due to the rain the threat of ice looks even greater for the remainder of the week as once again the league tries to catch up with delayed cup matches.

Cooper-Avon and Biddestone White Horse, along with Spencer Sports and The Ship will try for a fifth week to get their outstanding presstoprint-sponsored Eric Hughes Memorial Knockout Cup third round matches played.

The all-Third Division affair between Cooper-Avon and Biddestone White Horse is due to be held at The Conigre, Melksham, and both teams will be eager to get the game on as neither have played since before Christmas.

Should Cooper-Avon's pitch be unplayable, the league is considering stepping in to find an alternative venue where the game can be staged so that no more disruption will be caused to the competition that is now behind schedule.

Wherever the game gets played Cooper-Avon should have the edge over their stable-mates and will be expecting to book their place in the quarter-finals, where they are due to meet First Division Kingfisher.

Like Cooper-Avon and Biddestone, Spencer Sports' match with The Ship have been postponed four times, so hopefully it will be fifth time lucky.

Spencer Sports' pitch at Shaw is looking good at the moment and if there is no sudden change in the weather then the game should be given the green light.

Top flight Spencer Sports have already defeated the Ship this season and another cup success would set up a tie with Corsham Centre, who received a walkover into the last eight when North Star A conceded the game to catch up with their league programme.

Last term's beaten Westernsport Trophies-sponsored WG Parr Trophy finalists Wheatsheaf FC may be up against Fourth Division opposition in the shape of Little George, but they are favourites for elimination as the George are a very good side who fancy their chances of going all the way in this season's event. The prize on offer for the winners is a home match against British Lion OC which should make for a thrilling quarter-final clash.