Calling all pin-heads - it's the week you've all been waiting for; the global bowling community is simmering with a feverish excitement as the Superb Bowl trophy looks to find a new home this coming Friday. PLB Weekly are delighted that we can put the monotony of the controversial winter international break behind us, and we are here to get you back up to speed on all the drama and storylines to follow as we roll towards the end of another electrifying season of pin-tumbling.

We begin in Milan, where fans of the black and blues must be salivating over their strong chances of bringing their first championship back to the San Beero following a simply dominant expression of bowling throughout the season. Pinter enjoy a huge lead going into the final week, amassing a staggering 145 points, 38 clear of their closest competitor.

Pinter haven't been without their obstacles - losing a talismanic presence such as Harry 'Pins' Magee (now evangelising our great game in Australia) had analysts wondering whether Pinter could maintain their strong form into the second half of the season, and although Pins' beautiful blend of inspiration and skittle-slapping could never be truly replaced, fan favourite and Pinter legend Aidan 'The Tickler' Hickman was emphatically voted in by the squad to take over the mantle, and the harmonious mood in the Pinter camp since points to a smooth transition. 

This reporter was lucky enough to get time with the Tickler following a book signing event for his biography 'Tickling to the Top':

Q. Tickler, how do you feel about filling the leadership role vacated by Pins Magee and what do you put the strong morale in the Pinter camp down to?
"Obviously no man can fill a Magee shaped hole but I've tried filling every hole I can for my team mates. Morale is an interesting thing. It is a nectar of the gods. And whilst the Pinter boys are drinking heavily from that cup, as they are ones to do, the cup is runneth over. Morale isn't the only driver behind our success though. The points we are scoring are a reward for hard work on the training ground."

The Tickler's hatred of the pins is matched only by his sheer devotion to the Pinter cause, with the experienced roller as present on the training lanes as he is in the Milan community, having founded 'Strikes not Fights' earlier this year, a charity aimed at getting youths off the streets and into the alleys. Crime has dropped 72% in the community while lager sales have been buoyed by 728%.

But beyond the philanthropy and rousing spirit, Milan mean business. On the lanes, Pinter have been ruthless, with 2 strong MVB candidates leading the charge in Micky 'The BigTime' Faulkner and Adam "Ibrapinovich" Hackett routinely turning in jaw-dropping scores. While it was the BT that set the league record with the magical 189 this season, and can claim the largest average score total in the team at 133.9, it's Zlats that's bringing home the bacon in terms of league-points per game with 4, which is better than anyone else in the game this season. While this explosive one-two punch has pulled the headlines, the progression of academy prospect Javier Pinetti has been astonishing in the second half of the season, picking up points in spades. Glue-guy Max 'Nae-strikes' Glanvill has been pulling the strings as a deep-lying playmaker, paving the way for the big hitters up top. Nae-strikes is of course known for his unique approach of bowling the ball with zero velocity, which has been known to unsettle the Pins defensive rhythm. When he approaches the lane you truly don't know if the ball is actually going to reach the pins, and if it does whether it's simply going to bounce back. This lulls the pins into a false sense of security, and makes them prize targets for unexpected strikes and spares.

And rounding up the news surrounding the likely Champs in the making - fans and players alike were shocked and confused to hear that Andrew 'The Cat Daddy' Gillespie is set to make a return to the starting lineup this week, his first appearance since a disasterous debut in last season's finale. Skipper at that time Pins Magee had presumably been hoping that the wily veteran could draw on his vast experience to bring a different angle to the side, however that angle turned out to be directly towards the gutter on most occasions. PLB Weekly caught up with the CD in Oxford:

Q. Your last appearance in the first team for Pinter was described by analysts as 'erratic,' 'unconventional,' and 'shit' - and yet the club has turned to you again for the championship game. How do you feel about the pressure and scrutiny over your game, and how confident are you in your ability to still produce at this level in such a crucial fixture?
"You newspapers are all the same. How low are you prepared to sink for a story? Let me just say this... when the papers on Saturday talk about "strikes," it won't be related to nurses or trains... when they talk about "spares", it won't be about prince William's ginger brother... It will be describing the performance of a legend in the game. The Cat Daddy is back."

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Elsewhere on Planet pins, we have the Pin City Rollers, who have surprised and delighted in their debutant season with a commendable display. The club's recruitment strategy of finding nearby pedestrians on match day and inviting them in has led to truly unpredictable performances and foiled scouting efforts from the rest of the league.

Of their squad of 329 bowlers, it's Daniel 'No-Show' Poes that shines the brightest, with the South African international joining the MVB race with some strong credentials himself - producing the highest overall frame-scoring in the league. Much to the growing PCR fanbase's dismay though, rumours are however circulating that No-Show may not be eligible for the final fixture due to forgetting that he plays in this league. You have to wonder where his usual points are going to come from, again because we genuinely have no idea who will be playing for the side this Friday.

PCR haven't been immune to controversy though, with a dark cloud hanging over the club for accusations of pint-dodging and lack of pleasantries. Historians of the game will know well that the PLB was founded on the belief that bowling is a game best served with pints, and the PCR rabble are rumoured to be currently under audit for failing to meet the quota of lager ingestion. Referees are reportedly keeping a keen eye on their lane this Friday and have warned they will dock points without evidence of more stumbles, physical altercations, or dipping their fingers in someone else's pints - all reliable signals of pints-per-hour.

There is also ambiguity over the current state of leadership in the PCR camp, with founding captain The Renegade seemingly having delegated some responsibilities to PLB Heartthrob of the year The Tomahawk. It was particularly concerning then when videos surfaced later in the the year of The Tomahawk giving credibility to rumours of a potential transfer to the ROR. Most fans assume that he was heavily under the influence given that nobody in their right mind would want to move to such a sorry franchise. Rotation option 'Le Nonceski' remains a game-time decision, as the 7pm first ball is early enough that there may still be a childrens birthday in progress and a court-order requires him to remain 100 yards away from any minor.

PCR are the only side with even a remote chance of snatching the title away from Pinter on Friday - they will hope for their best performances and a good portion of luck.

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Turning to a team with absolutely no hope whatsoever - we have the Riders of Rowans. The Riders form this season has caused analysts and casual pin-heads alike to wonder how they could have possibly won last year's championship. With a frankly embarrassing 78 league points under their belt, they face a very real possibility of league leaders Pinter Milan doubling their score by the time the curtains have closed.

Last week we heard from target man and heavy hitting pintsman David Slapz who walked us through his view on the trials and tribulations of his team's year. What he failed to mention however, was the fact that his ball speed this season has dropped to 45.4mph, down from 71.9mph in his first season. For a man whose brand is built upon a foundation of raw power, his statline and metrics make for uncomfortable reading. Hushed voices at matchday and in online forums speculate that sponsorships are on the line, and that a failure to recapture the magic of his prior seasons could be perilous for his earnings and spot in the starting lineup.

In other clubs, a crisis of confidence can be addressed and overcome by strong leadership. Not in this team. Skipper David 'Two-Shoes' is measured at the lowest average decibel level on match days this season, causing his team to often forget he is there. There was genuine shock when PLB Weekly's statistical analysis was released late last year and surfaced Two Shoes' impressive scoring - which led team mates and rivals alike to proclaim 'I don't remember him even playing.' He might not be on the back of many shirts, but Two Shoes' pin-striking has proven reliable, and he will need to be firing on all cylinders on Friday even if just to save face amongst the riders faithful. PLB Weekly approached Two Shoes for comment, however he declined, much as he usually does when asked whether he would like a pint.

Alex 'Balbert' Lewis has emerged as an interesting prospect for ROR this season. His bowling has been described as 'an absolute coin flip' by pundits but you can't argue that he has a certain panache. Clocking in at a respectable 8.3 pints per match, Balbert appears to understand the history and spirit of the game and has an eager and industrious approach to pint-squashing, but to really put the whole thing together next season, he will need to chuck the ball directly into the gutter considerably less. A true rogue and wildcard, and ultimately more of a project than a major player.

The most positive story out of Rowans is the return of sharpshooter George 'The Don' Lynch. Arguably Rider's most potent weapon, the Don sustained a minor injury this season that was in no way serious, but with his long-term career in mind decided to take an extended absence. On his day, the Don is amongst the elite tier of PLB, with a smooth and consistent release not unlike No-Show or his counterpart and grizzly-haired veteran the Wickerman, and reports of his recent training scores suggest that Riders could be a far better outfit in the season finale. His return to consistent appearances next season are largely the only positive in what has been an absolute car crash of a season for the boys in green.

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Regardless of the result on Friday, bowling has been the real winner this past year, and this reporter simply cannot wait to witness the culmination of this years action in the colosseum of bowling that is Finsbury Park this Friday - it promises to be explosive.

Back to you in the studio.