For three years, the Leah Birnie rink has vied for a spot in the provincial women's championship. And for three years, they have been shut out of a provincial appearance by the slimmest margin.

Though there really isn't a home ice advantage in curling, the Weyburn team is hoping that the support of hometown fans will make the difference this Jan. 20-23, when the Weyburn Curling Club Weyburn Curling Club hosts the 2005 Southern Women Playdowns.

"This year, being that it's in front of a home crowd, we're really looking forward to it," said skip Leah Birnie, whose team won the 'B' side of districts in Radville on Jan. 7-8.

"It's just exciting to have the encouragement and the home support that we know we'll have."

The Birnie rink includes second Danette Tracey, third Laurie Lund and lead Charla Moore.

This year marks the Birnie rink's fourth appearance as a team at the SaskPower Southern Women's Playdowns, though all four women have competed there numerous times with different rinks. For example, this is Lund's ninth appearance at Southerns, said Birnie, and Tracey's seventh.

The Birnie rink came together several years ago out of a common desire to go further in competition. Back then, Moore and Birnie were curling together, and they approached Lund and Tracey to join them.

"(With Lund), we knew that she was wanting to be more competitive. With Danette, we were looking for that fourth player and we also knew she wanted to be a little more competitive, too."

In 2002, the team made it into the 'B' and 'C' finals, but didn't manage to come out on top. Last year, they made it into the 'A' and 'B' semi-finals, but were again shut out.

Hopefully, Weyburn will mark the point the Birnie rink finally clears the Southern Playdowns. But women's curling in Saskatchewan is dominated largely by the same players from year to year, and there are a lot of teams who try and fail many times before they finally reach provincials, said Birnie.

"I guess you could say we gain experience every year. We've come close. And with the experience that we've gained, hopefully, one of these times we will move on."

"We know we can compete at this level. We hope to do well, but if we don't, we'll try again," she said.

The Birnie rink is one of 16 teams that will compete at the Southern Women's Playdowns from Jan. 20-23.

Thursday will be taken up largely with registration and team meetings, but the first draw will be held at 2 p.m. The opening ceremonies will follow at 6:30 p.m., with another draw at 8 p.m.

On Friday, draws will be held at 9 a.m., 2:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. On Saturday, two draws will be held at 8 a.m. and noon before a presentation is made to the 'A' event winners. There are then two more draws that day at 4:30 p.m. and 8 p.m.

On Sunday, a draw at 9:30 a.m. will be immediately followed by a presentation to the 'B' event winners. The final draw is at 2 p.m., followed by a presentation to the 'C' event winners.

Admission is $8 for each day, or $5 for the final draw of each day. Event passes are also available for $20 each.

Four teams from the Southern Women's Playdowns advance to the Scott Tournament of Hearts, which will be held at Assiniboia from Feb. 2-5.