St Just's seven-year dominance of the Cornwall Premier League will almost certainly come to an end today and their usurpers to the crown are struggling to come to terms with their achievement.

"It hasn't quite sunk in yet and I guess it won't until we get across the finishing line," said Paul skipper Justin Stephens, whose side will be crowned champions if they take just one point from their final match, fittingly at St Just. "We're close neighbours and rivals and I'm sure it will feel strange for them as well after so many years at the top but we still need to get a point and that's our main objective," added the county all-rounder.

A chink in the reigning champions' armour first became apparent last season when Werrington came close to bagging the silverware. This year, St Just have lapsed on crucial occasions and skipper Gareth May accepts that Paul will take the title on merit should they take that point at Cape Road.

May said: "They've played better over the year than we have so we've got no complaints: all credit to them and our congratulations to them on winning it."

Of course, no one doubts that St Just will be strong contenders next season and May – who is out of action until then with a knee injury – is ready to start again. He said: "We've had a difficult year with the number of games we've played and injuries but hopefully we'll be stronger next year, brush things up with one or two signings and go for it again.

"Paul still need a point on Saturday and we go to Frocester on Sunday for the area final of the Cockspur Club Twenty 20 so there's still a lot to play for.

Stephens meanwhile paid tribute to his players. "Obviously a couple of individuals have stood out but for me it's been all about the team and the team spirit, which is the best I've been part of," he said.

"There have been notable performances: Kelvin Snell's 60 at Falmouth got us a winning draw which we had no right to get, Murray Westren's 20 at Truro where we won by 20 runs and Tom Edwards' 20 not out at Newquay which gave us some momentum when we need it.

"Matt O'Leary took the best part of 70 wickets in all competitions which is crazy for a first year and Kelvin's scored 400 runs."

Stephens added: "If we do get that point on Saturday it gives us more of a chance to get new players in; we've acquired two already – keen young cricketers, the kind of players we want at Paul – and we want to play on Saturday to set us up for next year."

Four teams are still in with a chance of snatching second place. Truro are nine points behind in third place and travel to Falmouth today while fourth-placed Callington travel to St Austell.

Joint-fourth Grampound Road also have second place within their grasp but Chris Hunkin's young team would have been in a far stronger position had they won at Paul last week, a result which would have given them a shot at the title going into today's fixture.

However, Hunkin is more concerned that the club continues to improve and learn and is happy that those criteria have been met this season.

He said: "Our success won't be determined by where we finish in the table. We've set ourselves goals and targets for each game and our success has been hitting those targets rather than winning certain games."

Grampound are already making plans for next season and Hunkin is anxious that success is season can be carried forward. He said: "We want to be stronger next year and if we can work towards that in the close season then our winter will have been as productive as our summer.

For Callington it is case of what might have been. Early title contenders, the New Road club fell off the pace mid-season and suffered a number of costly defeats in the latter stages but skipper Jim Shorten is happy that the side is in a strong enough position to challenge for second place going into the final weekend.

He said: "We've had some ups and downs but we're a young side, we're building and we can take a lot from this season. Hopefully we can keep the squad together and be more consistent next season.