DURING the course of a full-blooded Premiership season, there are plenty of defining moments that determine the destination of the title.

Many Newcastle United fans will argue last week's 2-1 reversal away to Everton signalled the end of the Magpies' push to lift the crown.

But at St. James' Park this afternoon, Sir Bobby Robson's men still have a massive part to play in the outcome of the 2002-03 championship race.

Whether it be for their own cause or to stop United in their search for domestic glory, Newcastle also know three points will keep their season alive for a few weeks longer.

Newcastle are not completely out of it. A win over the Red Devils will be welcomed by a new wave of optimism on Tyneside.

With leaders Arsenal taking on Manchester United next Saturday, it will be game on all over again for Newcastle if that match were to finish all square.

Realistically, though, all a Newcastle win today will surely do is strengthen the argument that the only trophy room the Premiership crown is heading to is back to Highbury.

The Gunners are without a game today - they are the only side in the top ten involved in the FA Cup semi-finals tomorrow.

So while Manchester United - still smarting from being taught a lesson by football's all-stars Real Madrid - try to bounce back from their Bernabeu humiliation, Arsenal can relax and wait for the outcome of the second versus third match-up.

Regardless of the outcome of today's crunch match, the race looks like going down to the wire between Man United and Arsenal.

After all, Newcastle are six points behind the leading pair with six games remaining.

But Newcastle are not the only North-East club who have an important part to play in the run-in.

Both Middlesbrough and Sunderland must face Arsenal between now and the end of the campaign.

And with both of these encounters outside London, Arsene Wenger's side will be hoping for three positive results over the next month in this region, including today.

However, Newcastle chief Robson, who now insists his side can still finish ahead of the rest despite conceding defeat in the race to be No 1 at Goodison Park last Sunday, will know his side have by far the easiest run-in of the three.

And, provided Man United are beaten today, privately the former England boss will be keeping his fingers crossed that results go his way for the remaining few weeks. After today, Robson would be disappointed if his side did not win each of their remaining five fixtures. They face Fulham (a), Aston Villa (h), Sunderland (a), Birmingham (h) and West Brom (a).

If that is the case, then who knows perhaps Newcastle could yet make a surprising surge for the top.

Remaining League games

Arsenal: Man United (h); Middlesbrough (a); Bolton (a); Leeds (h); Southampton (h); Sunderland (a).

Man United: Newcastle (a); Arsenal (a); Blackburn (h); Tottenham (a); Charlton (h); Everton (a).

Newcastle: Man United (h); Fulham (a); Aston Villa (h); Sunderland (a); Birmingham (h); West Brom (a).