Qualifying Final -Glengarry V Cowwarr
Set to embark on consecutive finals campaigns under coach Josh King, GLENGARRY will need to put an end to the high flying COWWARR Saints nine game winning streak in Saturdays qualifying final to advance to the next stage of North Gippsland finals.

A standout performer throughout the season, the Magpies will contest their third finals match in two seasons aiming to provide King with his first up win. While the Magpies coach searches for his first finals victory, so too will be the man at the helm of Cowwarr Cory Bannister.

Returning to finals for the first time since claiming the premiership title in 2006, the Saints like Glengarry would like nothing more than to have another crack at Sale City with Saturdays victors wish to be granted.

Travelling through the season undefeated, reigning premiers Sale City hold unassuming flag favouritism with the top Dogs earning the first week break and a semi final berth.

Before a showdown against the minor premiers a tough assignment awaits the qualifying finalists.

The ledger stands at one a piece in 2011, the Magpies getting the better of the Saints in round three at Glengarry Recreation Reserve while 22 points was the margin in the second half of the season, Matt Cameron booting three.

Prior to the sides round 14 clash King was under no illusions as to what his chargers would be up against with a four quarter effort needed, "We know that we need to pull together a full four quarters against Cowwarr".

Having won four of their past five matches succumbing to Sale City by under two kicks, Glengarry has been exemplary with the side occupying a top two position throughout the home and away season.

Although dropping their form in the middle part of the competition, playing what King described as "patchy football" the coach would be relatively happy with the side's performance in the majority of their matches.

With a reversal in form over the past month and a half, King would be confident that the Magpies form will serve them well at the pointy end of the season as the side looks to make the most of snaring the double chance.

Playing supreme football combining miserly defence with high scoring, the Saints have conquered all before them in the second half of the fixture with their momentum continuing to gain.

Like this week's opponent Cowwarr have declared the premiership race wide open, with the side perhaps best positioned to challenge favourites Sale City.

But before then Bannister will need to get his Saints up and about.

"Glengarry are a formidable opponent, we match up well against them and obviously need to get over the line before we can look too far ahead to Sale City.

"We would like to have another go at Sale City given that we only met them once during the season, and on that occasion we had a number of key omissions from our side but the focus is on Glengarry," said Bannister.

ELIMINATION FINAL - CHURCHILL V ROSEDALE

CHURCHILL will meet ROSEDALE in a replay of last season's elimination final, with the Cougars keen to remain in the premiership hunt despite failing to claim the points against fellow final contenders in the second half of the fixture.

It has been a turbulent month for the Cougars whose premiership credentials were tested, with Churchill's finals fate left not only in their hands but the hands of others in the concluding rounds of the competition.

Winning their final two games of the season in convincing fashion, the Cougars snuck into the top five and are now looking to wreak havoc on the sides above them.

"Following our loss to Gormandale, we went back and readdressed the way that we had been playing.

"We spent the bye weekend doing some extra training so that we could make inroads on our game structure, up until the match against Heyfield a fortnight ago we had been a bit hit and miss," said Darby.

Describing the clubs season defining win against long time foes Heyfield as the "best that the side has played to date", bar a few lapses of concentration here and there, Darby was impressed with the way that the side applied themselves to the game plan.

"Round 20 was the first time all year that we had a full squad to choose from, we now find ourselves in the position of leaving guys out.

"There is pressure from within for the side to perform, we're in a better place then we have been all year.

"With the luxury of a full list, we now boast a good spread of size - height and weight among our list to match it with Rosedale's tall big guys along with their smaller running players.

"The last fortnight has enabled us to settle our forward line, with Brendan Holt and Chris Burke back in the side while brothers Nick and Nat Campbell have been running into some solid form of late.

"We're confident that we won't be making up numbers, we have been competitive against a number of the tops sides this season with a quarter here or there costing us," said Darby.

Squaring the ledger at one all this season following the sides stirring nine goal victory over the Cougars, Blues coach Brad Caldwell knows that past results account for nothing in the sides do or die elimination clash.

Holding the Cougars to a goal in the opening half of their round 14 clash, Caldwell is under no illusions that the same result will not be played out a second time.

"It was one of those days, I wouldn't expect to see that again, they're a very proud club and I would expect them to provide spirited opposition.

"Its going to be a tough task, every team sets out to play finals footy so it's great that we have been able to put ourselves in a position to challenge as we did last season," said Caldwell.

Caldwell made it known following the sides stirring victory over Woodside on Saturday that the side wouldn't just be making up numbers in this seasons final series.

"It would be disappointing to get there and then not go on an do anything, it's not good enough to just make it we need to do something and I will be telling the boys that.

"We found ourselves in a similar position last year and went through to play off for the flag, if we were to do that again it would be great.

"There is no reason that we couldn't; confidence goes a long way in football."

Like the Cougars, the Blues squad is fully aware of the pressures of final football and will be confident of their chances with the side having strung together four consecutive victories over the past month with their only blemish against qualifying finalist Glengarry.

Boasting a lightening paced young midfield brigade and with the experience of Andrew Flanagan, Ross McDermott and Caldwell in the forward line the Cougars defenders will need to be on their guard as they look to hold the Blues forward six at bay.

Both Darby and Caldwell will be sure to remind their chargers that they have an opportunity to create their own destiny, as both coaches search for first up win.

By Lauren Carey