With finals ambitions on the line and bragging rights up for the taking it doesn't get any more appetising six weeks out from the North Gippsland Football finals series.
While the race is well and truly on between Cowwarr, Woodside and Yarram to see who will contest the knock out elimination round, it is the top of the table clashes that highlight another action packed Saturday of football.
There is plenty to like about round 16 with a number of tantalising contests which will see the top four sides battle it out against one another with there no bigger game then that between undefeated ladder leaders HEYFIELD and ROSEDALE who sit four games behind in third.
While the Kangaroos appear to have one hand on the premiership silverware after tightening its already short quote to take the title in 2014, there are a number of challengers with this week's opponent and second placed Churchill continuing to prove that they too aren't far off the mark.
Boasting a rife rivalry the Blues can be referred to the as the thorn in Heyfield's side with Rosedale holding the upper hand in the win-loss ledger in past seasons despite dropping the points in their round five showdown by under two kicks.
Sitting one game clear of fourth placed Sale City, Saturday is about more than just the four points for last year's preliminary finalists Rosedale. Should City halt the running streak of Churchill they will mount an attack on a double chance come the first week of finals something that Rosedale coach Nick Leechino and his chargers have worked so hard to maintain a strangle hold on for the majority of the season.
With the minor premiership honours sealed and delivered, the Kangaroos will be out to extend their winning streak to 15. Boasting endless avenues and choices in front of goal, a midfield brigade that may just have the Blues fleet footed brigade matched and the best defence ahead of this week's opponent, the stage is set for an early prelude to September action with the victor to boast bragging rights leading into finals.
Needing to be measured and controlled in their approach to coming weeks COWWARR will be out to mark decorated born and bred Cowwarr local and premiership Saint Shane Morgan's 200th club match with victory.
A league best and fairest winner in 2005 in the thirds competition, league rookie of the year footballer, premiership player in 2006 and league team of the year member, Morgan is not unfamiliar with the highs and lows of football and will be confident that his side can maintain their strangle hold on a finals berth.
Winning two on the run which has seen Cowwarr move from outside the five to fifth position in a fortnight the Saints will play host to TTU and the ABC "The Coodabeen Champions" in a massive day for the club.
Declaring ahead of the week's bye the clubs plans to carry momentum into next season, "We have four games to go following the bye next week, if we can win three of these and carry some momentum into 2015 it would be a good result." Bomber coach Matt Stolarczyk would be confident that his side will match it with the Saints who are on the march, with the small ground to be to their liking.
With a finals berth on the line and matches against top of the table sides Rosedale and Heyfield in the coming fortnight, Saturday is a crucial must win match for the Saints if they are to keep their finals pulse beating.
Claiming bragging rights for the second time against Yarram, WOODSIDE in turn kept their slim chances of breaking into the top five alive with the side one game shy of having the Saints measure for the prized fifth place.
Sitting alongside one another in the logjam on the premiership ladder, the match between Woodside and GLENGARRY will be sure to offer plenty, with the Wildcats eager for redemption following the one that got away against the Magpies first time around. The Wildcats falling agonisingly short by three points.
Coming off a performance Magpies coach Ryan Potter would rather forget the man at the helm will need to refocus his chargers and have them primed for the contest which will see one side deservedly seal a morale boosting victory before seasons end.
Perhaps the best side outside the five, Woodside must win and hope the cards fall their way in other contests to all the big cats to continue their late run to finals.
Set to make a return to finals action after a year's absence two time premier SALE CITY will be out to halt the juggernaut that is CHURCHILL.
Claiming the honors at Gaskin Park by 17 points, Sale City coach Hayden Burgiel says his side will take plenty of confidence into the contest having knocked off the second placed Cougars first time around.
Referred to as one of the toughest road trips on the fixture by opposition coaches the confidence that the Dogs will have leading into the contest will make for a competitive showdown.
"It's definitely a big game, we knocked them off at home last time and we will take a lot of confidence into the clash.
"We are looking forward to it, we took a fair bit of confidence from the Heyfield game and then followed it up the week following with some good footy against Bosidale," said Burgiel.
Testing the ladder leaders in a dogged contest, the going hasn't been easy for the fourth placed Dogs who have boasted an endless list of omissions through injury and unavailability which saw some 10 player's absence from the clash against Heyfield including ruckman Matt Lutze, Josh Barbetti, Ken Hughes and Burgiel.
Despite this the Dogs through fringe players have been able to fill the void and maintain a winning run which has them poised to knock on the door to a top three finish, and subsequent double chance the first week in finals.
"The loss to Gormandale hurt us, but we know where we are at and we know what the verdict is if we can beat Churchill.
"We lose, and Rosedale wins which would place them two games clear of us, our top three chances are gone.
"The boys are pumped, we know that we are guaranteed a place in finals, the challenge will be to match a side who are playing good football and continue to develop and encourage the sides confidence and belief," said Burgiel.
Returning home after a tough showing against Churchill, GORMANDALE will host YARRAM who dropped more than the four points against Woodside.
The Demons costly second half fade out seeing them slip to seventh position on the premiership ladder standings which was welcomed by the Cowwarr faithful, the Saints elevated to fifth position.
Boasting an indifferent month Yarram must turn their form around and quick if they are to make an impact come September. With both sides desperate for the points, expect a tough physical contest with Yarram to return to the winners list.
BOISDALE/BRIAGOLONG has the BYE.
By Lauren Carey
