With finals looming, Jeeralang Boolarra will need to pull off a spectacular outright win against Trafalgar this round to reignite its hopes of making the post-season.
Just two rounds remain before Central Gippsland Cricket Association finals begin and after spending much of the season in fourth place, the Panthers find themselves 12 points off the pace following Moe’s post-Christmas resurgence.
The Lions have not lost since Christmas with victories against Jeeralang Boolarra, league leader Mirboo North and the winless Yallourn North.
Jeeralang Boolarra face Mirboo North in the final round meaning it’s now or never if the club hopes to be playing in March.
But it’s hard to see the new-look Ships conceding maximum points, with Trafalgar’s number six position not reflective of the team’s performance this season.
Import Marco Higgins has brought plenty of firepower to the top order while the club has unearthed some gems in young guns Brodie Burgess and Liam White who have both become regular contributors at the top of the order.
The two teams’ previous encounter in round five was rained out meaning they are yet to go head-to-head.
This one could go either way and a Trafalgar win at home would effectively assure Moe’s finals berth.
Morwell will be out to right a pair of past wrongs when it takes on Moe at home on Saturday.
The Tigers’ six-round winning streak came to an end on Saturday, but with the firepower at captain Rory Hare’s disposal it’s hard not to see a strong response from the league’s third-ranked team.
Hare will be looking for revenge after Moe upset Morwell in their rain-affected round five clash.
In that match the Tigers declared in a bid to force a result giving the Lions an opportunity to snatch victory.
Moe captain Andrew Philip will likely be thinking about securing points as much as the win as he looks to strengthen his team’s grip on fourth place.
Reigning premier Mirboo North travels to Yallourn North this round with a golden opportunity to extend its lead at the top of the table.
The Bombers have lost each of their two-day clashes outright and with a 32-point deficit appear to have stitched up this season’s wooden spoon.
The two teams’ last clash was in a one dayer in round five where the Tigers rolled Yallourn North for 73 before putting on a huge 243.
Mirboo North defeated Trafalgar outright last round and should have no problem doing the same in this match.
