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The Dogs and Cougars are equal on wins and meet in what will be a classic showdown at Gaskin Park Reserve with the victor to be handed a bit of breathing space as the race for the double chance enters the final month of the home and away season.

It's a mouth watering round of matches, with the competitions top six sides to face one another with the four main premiership contenders eager to claim bragging rights ahead of finals.

CHURCHILL's premiership aspirations were dealt a hefty blow last Saturday following injuries to key play makers Chris Burke and Nic Campbell.

It's a tough blow for the Cougars ahead of their clash against second placed SALE CITY with Burke and Campbell instrumental in a number of the side's victories this season.

The Cougars will need to rally and focus on the task ahead with the side to encounter the Dogs who come off a disappointing performance in the top of the table clash against Gormandale.

In only their second defeat of the season, City were outplayed for three quarters of the match and will be eager to make a return to the winners list.

The Dogs will be confident in the fact that they toppled the Cougars in a one sided contest in the opening half of the season.

On that occasion the top of the table showdown between the two sides turned into a fizzer with the dominance of the Dogs, seeing the side coast home to a 107 point thrashing of the Cougars.

For the undefeated Cougars and Dogs the match was a chance for both sides to genuinely prove their worth against quality opposition.

But for the Cougars the opportunity went begging as they were simply outplayed by a fluent, adventurous Sale City who went on a demolition of the opposition.

It would be hard to expect the same thing to happen second time round, the Cougars have dropped just the one match in the past month and have looked impressive.

Saturdays match will be a test of character for the Cougars, with matches against fellow top five sides Glengarry and Rosedale to come Churchill's chances of sealing the double chance may hinge on the result against City.

With four rounds remaining, it shapes to be a thrilling climax to the home and away season with HEYFIELD and ROSEDALE vying for the final position in the five.

Aiming to secure their first finals appearance under coach Damien Birss, the Blues will have to dispose of reigning premiers Heyfield to maintain their strangle hold on fifth position.

The coach is impressed with his side's form of the past three weeks, with Birss under no illusion as to the importance this week's result will have on ensuring his sides first finals appearance during his coaching tenure.

"It's an absolutely must win match if we to have any chance of finishing top five, the guys are up to the challenge and have come into some pretty good form over the past three weeks."

He added that the Blues would need to perform at their best against the reigning premiers, who found some form on Saturday after loosing to Sale City.

"I think everyone in the competition knows that you can't write off Heyfield.

"They are always a threat, they haven't been in this situation (of missing finals) for quiet a while so they have plenty to play for," said Birss.

A multiple premiership player with Heyfield Birss' side may put the nail in the coffin of Heyfield's flag defence if the Blues can continue their solid form.

"We know that we have to have an even effort across the field we can't afford to drop off as they are the type of side that will punish you," said Birss.

"If we can play to our strengths that will be the key, our forward line has been potent but our improvement has come from the midfield and defence.

"The backline has been instrumental in restricting teams, with the side being able to launch attacks off the half backline while the work from the guys in the midfield in delivering the ball into the forwards has been strong.

"The guys know what it is all about, we need to concentrate and go through the processes to ensure that we give ourselves the best chance."

The two Bombers TTU and BOISDALE will clash with both sides enduring lean seasons.

The two sides have contested some classic encounters in past years, with the stage set for a mini blockbuster between ninth and tenth.

Boisdale claimed the honors in their round six encounter by six goals, on that day Boisdale boasted nine individual goal kickers with Dylan Bolton leading the charge with four.

A win to either side would boost both lists as they look towards next season.

Arch rivals GORMANDALE and GLENGARRY will meet in Sunday's showdown.

The Tigers are in scintillating form coming off the back of their 42 point disposal of premiership contender Sale City, while the Magpies dropped the points to reigning premiers Heyfield.

Gormandale could do little wrong against Sale City, the second placed Tigers brushing aside the ladder leaders who struggled to counteract the depth of the Tigers line up.

Gormandale's engine room dominated play captain Daniel Domaille, Frank Marks and Paul Rouget instrumental in delivering the ball into the waiting marking forwards.

Paul Richards and Daniel Trease had the ball on a string as they booted 14 between them.

While the forwards continued their form in front of goals, it was the back bone of the Tigers line up who played an integral role in shutting down the Dogs forwards.

Defenders Steve Hore, Lee Renton and Steve Burgess appointed key roles in closing down the oppositions scoring ability.

The Tigers defence will again have to be on their game with Mark Engley and Brad Smith featuring frequently among the goals, with both proven match winners.

But it will be Glengarry's back line that will come under close scrutiny with the Tigers scoring options endless. Full forward Paul Richards inflicted the damage in the side's earlier encounter finishing the day with seven goals which saw him named among the best in the Tigers 31 point victory.

Very little has changed for the Tigers since that day, the side has failed to drop a match with their winning streak running out to 10.

Playing to secure a double chance in the first week of the finals there is plenty at stake for the Magpies who will have a tough task in knocking over the ladder leaders.

WOODSIDE, COWWARR and STRATFORD have the BYE.

BY Lauren Carey