MIRBOO North has a chance to build a percentage buffer at the top of the table in its next two games against lower ranked teams Yallourn Yallourn North and Yarragon in Mid Gippsland football.
The Tigers currently shade Newborough by a small margin in the minor premiership battle.
Mirboo North floundered in the wet with two losses but was able to play its natural free-flowing game last week in good conditions.
Up forward Tim Traill is hunting for the “ton” and if the Tigers’ smaller players can deliver to him then his target will be achieved.
Mirboo North does not rely solely on Traill’s brilliance and has plenty of players capable of scoring when needed. YYN has gone through horrors in the past couple of weeks and an inability to score has been a real downer around the club.
YYN has history over the Tigers with a 41/37 winning ledger but Mirboo North goes into the match as favourite and it will take a Bombers miracle to cause an upset.
Trafalgar v Morwell East
GAINING third position on the ladder will be the focus for Trafalgar this week as it searches for a percentage boost to usurp Yinnar.
Trafalgar hosts Morwell East, a team that looked good early in the year but dropped off as the season progressed.
Last year’s premier could end up in fourth which would make it a struggle to reach another grand final.
Yarragon v Yinner
THIRD-placed Yinnar is ahead of Trafalgar by just 7.27 per cent and would dearly love to retain its ladder position with two weeks to go.
Percentage is pivotal at this time of year and every score counts toward where teams will finish in a fortnight’s time.
Yarragon has been on the end of a few pastings lately, but it is only academic to the Panthers at this stage as they try out some promising talent for next season.
Yinnar is looking for the double chance and, with big wins over Yarragon this week and Morwell East in the final fixture next week, the vision is bright for the Magpies.
Boolarra v Thorpdale
NOW entrenched in the final five, Boolarra can look to improving its pre-finals form.
The Demons have won their last three, including the prized scalp of league leader Mirboo North, scraped in against Morwell East and just got home against Hill End last week.
The side takes on Thorpdale this weekend and is looking for a morale booster before the finals.
These teams are two of the oldest in the competition and have played more than 150 times, with Boolarra winning the past five meetings.
Boolarra should win but Thorpdale can be spirited opposition and may prove a handful.
Hill End v Newborough
THE Hillmen and Newborough will play for the Fanning/Byrne Cup this weekend in the 50th clash between the sides at Hill End.
The Bulldogs just won last year at the venue by two points, but on form should take out the cup.
Newborough has been the quiet achiever in 2013, holding second place, and will look for big percentages in the next two weeks.
It should not lose its next two matches and will finish either top or second.
Hill End has the ability to shape the final five and will make Newborough earn every point.
