Sting were shut out at home 5-0 by league runners up Blackburn Hawks while Warriors were held to a 3-3 draw away at improving Manchester Minotaurs.
Those results leave Whitley in 4th place with a 2 point advantage over Sutton, although the Sting have two games left as opposed to Whitley's one.
Both teams have home games against bottom Telford Titans to come and Sutton's game in hand is against champions Solway Sharks.
In the other game of the weekend, the Sharks beat Telford 11-2.
In the Northern Cup, Solway Sharks won 8-2 away at Billingham Stars to join Blackburn Hawks and Sutton Sting on 10 points at the top of the group.
The Sting play Manchester Minotaurs on 15th March and the Sharks play the Hawks on 22nd March with those two results deciding which two teams will contest the two legged Cup final. The cup final matches will be played on 5th and 6th April.
Photo: Sharks win at Billingham - by David Morrison www.david-morrison-photography.co.uk/solwaysharks
