By Jon Geddes

MANLY assistant coach Damien “Turtle”  Cummins has described Saturday’s crucial showdown with competition leaders Gordon at Chatswood Oval as his side’s biggest test of the season so far in what will be a brutal round for some Shute Shield teams.

Rugby News has done the sums and can reveal this Saturday’s six clashes carry big ramifications for every club’s finals hopes and each result will be crucial in what will be an intriguing game of snakes and ladders.

That includes the Highlanders and Marlins, who currently sit in first and third spots respectively on the Shute Shield ladder.