Meghan Duhamel, Eric Radford hold onto tight lead By RYAN PYETTE, QMI Agency

Meagan Duhamel and Eric Radford skate in the senior pairs short program at the Canadian National Figure Skating Championships in Mississauga Ontario January 18, 2013. (REUTERS/Fred Thornhill) Women's champ, Osmond, the eldest of new wave Patrick Chan still Canadian figure skating king Meagan Duhamel, Eric Radford break Canadian pair total record Virtue, Moir saving something for worlds Patrick Chan's dominant showing a potential springboard

MISSISSAUGA, ONT. - Don't judge quality on quantity.

There are only six senior pairs at the Canadian figure skating nationals, but the top two teams should provide the most nail-biting drama this weekend.

Defending champs Meagan Duhamel and Eric Radford needed an all-time performance in their La boheme short program just to stay barely ahead of Kirsten Moore-Towers and Dylan Moscovitch Friday at the Hershey Centre.

“When we were back here and heard their scores, we had never scored 68 (in the short before),” said Duhamel, the 27-year-old from Lively, Ont. “So you say, 'OK', and try to forget about it, ignore it, but being the competitive people we are, hearing that score gave us that little bit of oomph.

“It gave us that push through the door.”