Week one of the split round sees Bairnsdale host a Moe side full of confidence after a come
-from-behind upset win over Sale.
Lions coach Adrian Burgiel described Saturday’s match as a must win for his side.
"We are three (wins) and five (losses) now and we could easily have been four and four," Burgiel said.
"If we can beat Bairnsdale and then Warragul after that, we could possibly win three in a row."
Round eight marked the first time since the inception of the under 16s, Moe has beaten Sale in all grades of football.
Bairnsdale’s quest for the form that took them to an elimination final last year continues.
Redlegs coach Shaun Mooney will be desperate to record a second win for the campaign and kickstart an improved back half of the season.
Maffra v Wonthaggi Power
Maffra hosts Wonthaggi Power in the battle between second and third on the ladder and if recent contests are anything to go by, fans could be in for a thriller
.
Since its 2010 return to the competition, the Power have won six of their encounters and Maffra five.
More recently, the Power has had the upper hand, winning all three occasions last year.
"We will have to play our absolute best to get the four points up there," Power coach Rob Railton said.
"It will just determine where we are at and how well we are travelling, so I’m looking forward to it
."
Drouin v Sale
Coming off respective losses to Leongatha and Moe, Drouin and Sale will be vying to return to the winners’ circle when they do battle at Drouin Recreation Reserve
.
Sitting fourth on the ladder, Drouin has won five games and lost three, while its Wellington Shire counterpart lies seventh, with four wins and four losses.
Drouin and Sale have been at the opposite ends of the ladder in recent seasons, with results reflecting their respective positions.
However, it’s not too long before that, from 2009-2011, that Drouin managed a run of five straight wins over Sale.
Warragul v Traralgon
Warragul tackles Traralgon in week two of the split round.
Both sides will be fresh and ready to make a positive start to the turn of the season.
Speaking after the Queen’s Birthday triumph against Morwell, Traralgon coach Mark Collison said his players were looking forward to a break.
"We have got a weekend off now and that’s massive," said Collison.
"The boys will have a rest and hopefully come back stronger for it."
The Gulls will be out to snap an 11-game losing streak against the Maroons and register their first win of the season.
After an encouraging start to the season, Warragul has 17 or more goals in its past three contests and coach Steve Kidd will be keen to tighten up at the back to ensure his side stays in contest and has a shot at the four points.
Morwell v Leongatha
The reigning premier meets the hot favourite for its crown, when Leongatha visits Morwell Recreation Reserve.
Morwell will be looking to bounce back from its Queen’s Birthday disappointment and victory against the Parrots would be the best possible tonic.
A win would also keep the Tigers in touch with the top five half-way mark of the season – a good result, given their rollercoaster season so far.
The visitors have well-and-truly put their first loss of the season behind them in recent weeks, by downing Warragul (68 points), Moe (42) and, most convincingly, Drouin (77).
Last Modified on 15/06/2015 13:49