The time has arrived for a number of the competitions sides to turn around their fortunes if they are stay in contention with the leading trio.

As the season nears the business end four sides are vying for the hotly contested fifth position come the conclusion of round 20, with new kids on the block Yarram leading the pack by four points from neighbours and foes Woodside who have Glengarry and Cowwarr chapping at their heels.

Locked on five wins a piece Woodside will be keen to lay a stake on the top five after the Wildcats fell agonisingly short of the mark in 2013, while you can write the reigning premiers off at your own peril despite the past months results. Sitting some 16 points behind front runners Churchill and Rosedale the final six rounds are paramount if the quartet of sides are to fulfil their end of season ambitions.

While a finals berth is nearly all but guaranteed for the competitions front runners, for others it is still some distance from their reach.

Eighth place COWWARR will be hoping that the cards fall the right way in other round 14 results if they are to claim their best chance of snatching fifth position from the this week's opponent YARRAM.

Four points separate the Saints and Demons, with fellow top five aspirants in Woodside and Glengarry meeting sides at the pointy end of the ladder on Saturday. Needing results to fall their way Cowwarr will have a tough challenge on their hands with the visitors well and truly matching the Saints in their earlier encounter, with Yarram recording a barnstorming 13 goal victory.

Finding their groove away from their home ground, the Demons have won their past two matches on the road and will be confident that the smaller confines of the Cowwarr Recreation Reserve will suit their game style and cement a two game break on the log jam sitting below them on the premiership ladder standings.

It has been an indifferent month for ROSEDALE who claimed the points over Boisdale/Briagolong ahead of the week's bye. Since returning from the weeks break they have struggled despite claiming the points against Yarram on the road.

"We had a bit of a hiccup against Churchill and the way that we played, our kicking was poor and they played good footy.

"We do need and want to hit our straps, we started to find some form over the weekend which was a good start, the scoreboard didn't reflect that in the first quarter when we didn't convert but to kick nine in the second term was a great effort," said coach Nick Leechino.

Hit with injuries over the past month Leechino has been pleased with the depth amongst the clubs ranks which has been able to fill the void of those on the sidelines including full forward Andrew Flanagan.

"We have been hit by injuries, but what is pleasing is the depth that we have and have been able to call on to get us through.

"Over past weeks we have been able to continue to blood a number of top age thirds players which have fitted in well to the line-up.

"We should start to see the return of some of the guys, with Flanagan out for a few more, he could be right for the Heyfield game and Jon Cantwell to be back in coming weeks."

Returning to the winners list GLENGARRY will take confidence in the fact that they match up well against the third placed Blues and were the first side this season to claim their scalp. Despite past results the Magpies will need to be at their best to counteract a side who are working hard to secure the prized double chance.

Dropping their last two matches SALE CITY will be out to rebound against BOISDALE/BRIAGOLONG who conceded a match winning 28 point three quarter time lead in the dying minutes of last week's contest.

Not dissimilar to every other week the going doesn't get any easier for the Bombers when they meet a rebounding Dog line up who will be out to maintain their strangle hold on fourth position.

Leading for the majority of the contest the Bombers will be disappointed with their costly final term fade out. Testing Gormandale for three quarters of the contest, the Bombers can be confident that if they can carry that form into the contest against City they may have the legs to run out the game and push the home side to the final siren.

Holding firm on the minor premiership title HEYFIELD will play host to the Bombers.

It has been a lean year for last year's top three finisher and semi finalist TTU who have been endured a season derailed by injuries and the sides inability to finish off games.

Coach Matt Stolarczyk notes that while it is disappointing for the side to be where they are at he still has a lot of belief in his chargers.

"Our efforts have been really good in patches which isn't reflected by our position on the ladder.

"We have been in every game this year apart from one against Heyfield, and have lost four to five games by less than 18 points if you turn that around we could be sitting in fourth place.

"We have struggled to finish games, our last quarters have been letting us down badly," he said.

At the helm of the youngest list in the competition Stolarczyk rates this week's opponent Heyfield as the best side that they have played this year.

"By a long way they are the best side, I have no doubt that we will be competitive against them whether it be for a full four quarters, three or two quarters I don't know. "The key will be keeping the scoreboard respectable.

"We have four games to go following the bye next week, if we can win three of these and carry some momentum into 2015 it would be a good result," said Stolarczyk.

All focus will turn to the blockbuster clash between sixth and second, where WOODSIDE
is set to be tested when they host CHURCHILL in a match which is paramount in deciding the Wildcats end of season fortunes.

No doubt aware that the next three weeks will tell the tale for his side, coach Chris Pettitt will be mindful that his side will need to be at their best over the next fortnight as the Wildcats meet two of last year's finalists in as many weeks in the run to finals. Woodside must win Saturday's crucial clash against the Cougars to further confirm their hold on a top five finish.

There is more than just the four points at stake with the Wildcats struggling during the season to claim the scalp of an opponent which sits above them on the ladder standings; a win would boost the side's confidence as the competition moves into the pointy end of the season.

In contrast the Cougars continue to impress, last Saturday again continuing to demonstrate why they are quickly being touted as the dark horse of the premiership race.

It will take an almighty effort by the Wildcats to halt the Cougars whose season continues to gain momentum; in their last encounter the two sides were locked in a fierce battle before the Cougar's powered away with a withering five goals in the second term to seal a comprehensive 30 point victory.

The Wildcats can ill afford to allow Churchill the same luxury of breaking away and dictating the match on their terms or they will find their hold on fifth position quickly sliding from arms reach.

GORMANDALE has the BYE.

By Lauren Carey