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 quartet.

As the season nears the business end four sides are vying for the hotly contested fifth position come the conclusion of round 20, with powerhouses Churchill and Heyfield leading the pack.

Locked on five wins a piece Rosedale and Woodside will be keen to lay a stake on the top five, sitting some 28 points behind front runners Sale City and Glengarry the final six rounds are paramount if either side is to fulfil their end of season ambitions.

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

All focus will turn to the blockbuster clash between second and third on Saturday, where COWWARR is set to be tested for the third time in as many weeks when they host GLENGARRY.

On the march the Saints would be hopeful that they like Sale City will boast the blueprint to halt the Magpies in their tracks.

There is more than just the four points at stake with the Saints yet 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.

Magpies coach Josh King knows too well what his chargers will be up against with a four quarter effort needed if his side is to claim the honours for the second time this season against the Saints.

"I'm reasonably happy with where things are at we have been a bit up and down over the last month playing patchy footy.

"Up until six to seven weeks ago we were playing some really good footy, we have been trying to put our finger on why we have dropped off a bit it could be anything from fatigue at the half way mark of the season, guys thinking that we are going okay so have slackened off a bit but we know that we need to pull together a full four quarters against Cowwarr.

"Apart from our lapses I have been happy with our performance in the majority of our matches, we know that if we can sustain our consistency what we are able to do if where on song," said King.

Narrowly falling short in their earlier encounter, the Saints are a different prospect second time round. Playing supreme football combining miserly defence with high scoring, consecutive wins has elevated Cowwarr into the top three with a finals berth guaranteed for the first time since their premiership season of 2006.
The return of power forward Chris Stasinowsky in past weeks looks to be the final piece in the Saints puzzle that will see them as a contender for the North Gippsland title.
Stasinowsky's return to the Saints has raised the attention of King, "We are well aware that they are playing some fantastic footy, we know that when we played them earlier this season that they should have won.

"The return of Stasinowsky to their forward line certainly makes for a formidable forward structure it is one area that we will be concentrating on.

"One of our focuses will be on how to nullify their midfield, we know how skilful and well drilled they are, they use the ball well, chip the ball around and keep control as they dictate the pace of the game."

With both sides set to make an appearance come finals, King is hopeful Glengarry can maintain their hold on second place and finish off their early season hard work which has them poised to make a tilt at premiership glory.

While the top of the table sides will do battle ahead of finals, BOISDALE/Briagolong and STRATFORD will contest their own final of sorts as the Bombers look to seal their first win of the season.

Demonstrating vast improvement from earlier rounds the Bombers have tested top sides in past weeks however met their match against Heyfield last Saturday. Ahead of that clash Bomber coach Daniel Sandman said "that he would like nothing more than for his side to record a win as reward for the efforts they have made".

With the season quickly drawing to an end, the Bombers know that this may be one of their best chances in the final six weeks to claim those much sort after four points.

In their earlier encounter the Swans took the honours as their new recruits dominated the contest and flexed their muscle against an inconsistent developing side. Since that day in April the Bombers have tested a number of the competitions top five sides and know that a win is only around the corner.

A 10 goal haul from key forward Justin Staley was enough to power WOODSIDE to an emphatic four point victory over HEYFIELD in round three.
The Wildcats win over the perennial powerhouse sent an ominous warning to the remainder of the league, since that day injuries and player omissions has seen the Wildcats relegated to the middle of the pack.
On the other hand Heyfield have shown continued improvement since that meeting. It will be a tough ask for the home side with the Kangaroos renowned for getting their tails up at the right end of the season with another finals campaign eminent.
ROSEDALE snapped a three week losing streak last Saturday in a nail biter against Gormandale to ensure their hopes of a finals berth remain within reach.

Welcoming back their 1961 and 2001 Senior Premiership sides for their reunions the current crop of ‘Blue Boys' will be looking to impress players of old as they aim to make it two on the run against CHURCHILL.

Ironically the Cougars were the Blues opponent on that successful day in September some 10 seasons ago when Rosedale broke a 36 year drought to claim their first flag since 1965.

Both sides have endured an inconsistent season with the past month resulting in a 1-3 record for the Blues while Churchill has faired better winning three from three.

Sealing a comfortable 40 point win first time round, Churchill will go into the match as favourites the Cougars eager to stake their claim in the top five. In their previous encounter ruckman Andrew Brown was named best on ground, with Jesse Hornibrook and Chris Williams valuable contributors.

A 152 point victory over a top five side, demonstrated the supremacy reigning premiers SALE CITY hold over the competition.

This week it will be GORMANDALE who will feel the raft of the Dogs dominance as the Tigers look to gain some respect in the final rounds of the season.

It is a tough ask for the Tigers who have struggled to hit their straps and in their current form you can't look past the top Dogs.

TTU has the BYE

By Lauren Carey