With the final game of the spring season being moved to fall, this weekend will instead close out the first part of CEFL’s 2008 season, with two games — Zagreb against the Budapest Cowboys and the Budapest Wolves against Bratislava.

Both teams brought home wins last weekend; this week’s game and perhaps a win would be of great importance for the Wolves.

Had the Monarchs not lost last week, it would’ve been a contest that wouldn’t give a huge edge to either team after the game was over, but as it stands now, the Wolves are in position to bury the Monarchs’ hopes, as a win would push them a win up and two losses down in the standings over their opponent.

The Cowboys did their local rivals a huge favor by beating the Monarchs last week — the Slovaks have been the definition of an up-and-down team this year, losing three and winning two straight before the loss. If the season is an indicator, they could be in a tough position after the game is over, but fortunately for them, their opponent hasn’t impressed either.

The Wolves are still waiting not only for their first consecutive win, even with all the problems they had, still a strange sight for a team that lost only one game last year, but not only that, they’re waiting for the first win against a team not named the Silverhawks.

The game in Budapest will be played Saturday on Margaret Island, starting from 7PM.

Feeling good after their close game against, at least, the conference’s top team from Novi Sad, Zagreb plays host for the fourth time on the year, this time to the Budapest Cowboys. The Thunder, after previous three attempts at home, will have the fourth finally really in Zagreb.

The matches against the Silverhawks, the Monarchs and the Dukes were all played in various smaller cities around Zagreb, because they have thus far been unable to find a field for the season. The Cowboys game will be played at NK Prečko field, where the Thunder have already hosted Crobowl, a one day tournament, in 2006 and 2007.

With a surprisingly high win in Bratislava last week and two wins up on the winless Zagreb, the Cowboys go to Zagreb as presumptive favorites, but their close game in Budapest suggests that Zagreb has reasons to hope they won’t finish June with an 0-7 record.

Zagreb hosts the Cowboys from 3PM, also on Saturday.