As the competition nears the midway mark of the season, premiership front runners Sale City are finding the opposition chapping at their heels and they may not be the only side worthy of talk about an elusive premiership.

Taking the competition by storm in the opening half of the fixture Yarram has shaped their end of season's fortunes early making their mark on the top five. Rosedale has shown their up and about, likewise last year's grand finalists Heyfield and Churchill who sit in fourth and fifth position respectively. But with many rounds in front of us, TTU are one side that knows they need to make the most of their opportunities if they are to be considered serious contenders.

While the competition front runners continue to gain momentum, for a number of clubs outside the top five Saturday will provide them with a further opportunity to reel in the margin ahead of the general bye which will allow sides respite to get their injuries and list in order ahead of the run to September action.

With a mere 46 percentage points separating second from fifth place the competition is hot for the prized top of the table placings. Second placed ROSEDALE will host CHURCHILL two sides that have a top five berth in their sights.

Renowned for their hard physical contests the stage is set for yet another epic encounter with the teams coming into the contest on the back of polar opposite results in round seven.

Fresh off the back of a 118 point thumping of Glengarry, the Blues have hummed along over the past fortnight bouncing back from their loss to Yarram to defeat a strong Heyfield line-up before making light pickings of the winless Magpies.

On the other hand the Cougars became the first top five side to hold the fast finishing Demons at bay, claiming victory by the narrowest of margins one point.

Like their counterparts the Blues run and drive off half back is second to none with their ability to score on the rebound impressive. The two sides boast hard at it fleet footed midfield brigades which will ensure an enticing contest from the opening bounce. The ruck stocks at both clubs command respect, while the forward line structures will see the back six of either side stretched if they allow too much room.

Winning just one of their three clashes at home to date, the Rosedale Recreation Reserve hasn't been the happiest of hunting grounds for the Blues this season with coach Ben Macreadie no doubt hopeful that his side can make it two in a row on their home turf. But the first year coach will be wary of the Cougars who played some of their best football last Saturday and where boosted by the return of Brendan Holt to the line-up.

Sitting level with the Blues on points, this week's winner will be able to create a handy buffer from the log jam below and set the victor in good stead come the pointy end of the season. Something that premiership coach Allan Chandler will be hopeful his side can achieve.

Two sides working hard to stay in arms reach of the front runners are TTU and WOODSIDE, who were both on the end of loses at the hands of the competitions top five.

Going into the game as underdogs, the Bombers matched it with the Dogs throughout the first and second terms, before City finally broke away in the second half. While for Woodside a lean second term, scoring just one major, put the game beyond reach.

It is a must win clash for both sides, and potentially a season defining one if they are to remain in the hunt. For the Bombers the pressure is perhaps greater than the expectation on that of Woodside. The Bombers started the season strongly with high expectations on the side making marked improvement on last season's win loss ledger. But with injuries tallying and having lost the points to the competitions big names the pressure is on the Bombers to get back on the winners board.

However the Bombers won't be taking the Wildcats lightly, having proven with wins on the road against Glengarry and Cowwarr that they are a different prospect away from home, as they show continued signs of improvement.

A four game winning streak came to an end when YARRAM failed to mount the great escape for the third week in a row.

Leaving their run a tad shy in recording a sixth win, the Demons continue to be the talk of the competition with this week's opponent COWWARR fully aware that this is one side who is firming as a flag favourite.

The Saints come into the match having broken a four game losing streak with a dogged two point victory over the Tigers. Impressing in patches, the side will need its leaders to stand tall with a team effort required if Cowwarr is to make it two in a row at the Demons home fortress.

In a tough initiation to the coaching caper, GLENGARRY coach Robbie Cahill will need to rally and refocus the young Magpies at the nest with the side aiming for a competitive showing against HEYFIELD.

Like many sides the Magpies have felt the effects of injury and player availability which has caused Cahill to continue to make an inordinate amount of changes at the selection table each week a similar position that many of the competitions main men find themselves in.

It will be a tough task for the home side, the Magpies cavalry will be stretched, the side's midfield and defence will be tested, while they will need to boot a winning score to snatch what may be an impossible victory against a quality opponent.

Boasting a stronger more experienced list with a hard working backline, tall timber forward structure and a damaging engine room the Kangaroos will have too many winners around the ground and should have no trouble recording their sixth win.

GORMANDALE will need to push aside the disappointment of dropping the contest at the death last Saturday and concentrate on the task at hand.

This week's task is a daunting one, with the opposition to be taken to a whole new level when the Tigers meet ladder leaders SALE CITY.

The Tigers remain a work in progress, having performed strongly against opposition sides in patches. But it is the side's inability to string a solid four quarter effort together that has hindered the Tigers roar and seen them only win the one match to date.

The same can't be said for the Tigers opponent City who continue to take the points, with their only loss coming at the hands of Heyfield in round five. With a one game break on the opposition the visitors can't take the trip over the hills lightly, as they just might find themselves playing catch up football against a side hungry to announce themselves with a big name scalp.

By Lauren Carey