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 three sides are vying for the hotly contested fifth position come the conclusion of round 18, with powerhouses Churchill and Glengarry leading the pack from one of this season's biggest improvers Woodside.

Locked on seven wins a piece Churchill and Glengarry will be keen to lay a stake on the top five, while you can write Woodside off at your own peril. Sitting some 12 points behind front runners and reigning premiers Heyfield the final four rounds are paramount if the trio 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.

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

Highlighting that the next three weeks would tell the tale for his side, coach Tim Darby knows that this side will need to be at their best over the next fortnight as the Cougars meet two of last year's finalists in as many weeks in the run to finals. Churchill must win Saturday's crucial clash against the Blues to further confirm their hold on a top five finish.

There is more than just the four points at stake with the Cougars struggling throughout 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 Blues continue to impress, last Saturday they worked hard to embark on a second quarter comeback to claim the four points. Filling the void of injuries throughout the season, Rosedale continues to demonstrate why they are again this season touted as the dark horse of the premiership race.

It will take an almighty effort by the Cougars to halt the Blues whose season continues to gain momentum, in their last encounter the two sides were locked in a fierce battle at half time before the Blue's powered away with a withering 10 goals in the premiership term to seal a comprehensive 50 point victory.

The Cougars can ill afford to allow Rosedale 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.

League followers will be waiting with baited breath at the contest that waits when HEYFIELD and WOODSIDE meet as the Wildcats look to regain their early season form which has eluded them in the second half of the fixture.

Sitting one game clear of their nearest rivals, many would concede that the reigning premiers appear to have minor premiership honours all sewn up. However, those in the Kangaroos inner sanctum would argue that the sides form over the past month has been far than impressive with improvement needed from the Kangaroos camp.

Saturday's clash will provide an opportunity for the Kangaroos coaching panel to assess just exactly where the side is at, against a side which earlier in the season appeared on track for their first finals appearance since 2009.

Convincingly beaten by 72 points in the side's earlier encounter, the Wildcats will need to rebound from last week's defeat at the hands of Churchill. It's a daunting prospect for the seventh place Wildcats to meet the reigning premiers on their home turf; however it will be a true indication as to where Woodside are at.

COWWARR will be out to maintain their strangle hold on fourth position when they host SALE CITY.

Not dissimilar to every other week the going doesn't get any easier for the Dogs when they meet the Saints who are on the march. But the young pups can draw plenty from their performance against the competitions number one ranked side. Testing the Kangaroos for three quarters of the contest, the Dogs can be confident that if they can carry that form into the contest against Cowwarr and at the Saints smaller ground they may have the legs to run out the game and push the Saints to the final siren.

With more than the four points on the line, the Saints will be eager to seal their eighth win of the season ahead of next week's showdown against Heyfield.

TTU became only the first side in over a month and a half to knock over Glengarry in a season defining performance last Saturday.

The win may just act as a barometer for the remainder of the fixture, as the Bombers fight hard to snare a top three finish and an opportunity to take part in finals for the first time since claiming the silverware in 2004.

Saturday sees the Bombers from the west end of the competition take on their name sake the BOISDALE/BRIAGOLONG Bombers from the east.

Impressive in the opening half of the contest against the Saints, the Bombers faded away after the main change and can ill afford to allow TTU the same luxury or they will quickly find themselves on the end of a comprehensive drubbing. The Bombers will need their key play makers to stand tall and lead from the front as they aim to improve on their win loss ledger.

Sunday's blockbuster clash will see GORMANDALE meet long time foe GLENGARRY who come into the contest on the back of their first loss in six rounds.

With their wings clipped against third placed TTU, the Magpies will be keen to reverse the sides round five result against the Tigers which saw the black and white army fall short by two kicks.

Claiming their last victory in round 12, the Tigers have impressed in recent weeks testing their opponents and in their past two rounds have held commanding leads against Churchill and Rosedale before being overrun. For Glengarry this is a danger game, the history books show that you write Gormandale off at your own peril.

Regardless of the sides' ladder positions the Sunday showdown is always fiercely contested, with the Magpies fully aware that their hold on a finals berth is solely reliant on their performance over the coming month. With a tough run that sees them pitted against Churchill and Rosedale in coming rounds they can ill afford any slip ups against sides ranked below them on the premiership ladder standings.

By Lauren Carey