Three of the five Gippsland League football matches on Saturday could have a big bearing on finals down the track.

The four teams battling for a coveted spot in the top three, and a double-chance in finals, will face off and Traralgon and Drouin locked in a tussle for the last spot in the “five” also go head-to-head.

Drouin currently has one more win for the season, five, than the Maroons but will slip from fifth spot if it loses the match to be played at Morwell because of ongoing restoration work to the Traralgon oval and facilities that were flooded three weeks ago.

The Hawks hopes may well rest on whether a couple of key players under injury clouds recover for the weekend.

Top side Leongatha, coming off an impressive win at Drouin last week, will travel to Sale on Saturday.

A win to Sale would keep its chances of finishing in the top three well alive.

But even with home ground advantage and the confidence of a huge win against Warragul last week it will be a big, although not impossible, challenge for the Magpies to overcome.

Moe (2nd) has done little wrong this season, losing just one game, but will need to be close to its best to win its home clash with Wonthaggi (3rd).

The winner will take a big step towards an important finals’ double-chance.

The Lions may hold a few more aces in its forward area that enable it to kick a winning score but Wonthaggi has a spread of pact small players that can cut through defences.

The teams sitting on the bottom four rungs on the ladder clash in the other games.

Winless Warragul has one of its better chances to break the ice when it hosts a young Morwell side at Western Park while Maffra can give some impetus to its disappointing season to date with a win at Bairnsdale.

EDFL

Longwarry and Neerim-Neerim South headline Saturday’s round with the match set to have a major bearing on the race for the top five.

Both sides enter the contest just outside the top five but, in an even competition, are probably better teams on paper than where they currently sit. 

With both sides one win behind top five rivals Poowong, Lang Lang and Buln Buln, clinching the result will be pivotal in remaining in the hunt.  It will also leave the loser with some work to do.

Both teams enter in good form, having comfortably disposed of lower ranked sides in Yarragon and Catani last week.

The Crows will hope home ground advantage gives them the edge, but can’t afford to be complacent against the Cats.

Trafalgar will eye off an opportunity to bounce back when it travels to Catani.

Coming off tight losses to ladder leader Ellinbank and finals aspirant Buln Buln in less-than-ideal conditions in previous weeks, it presents an opportunity for Trafalgar to build some confidence and further consolidate second spot on the ladder.

Ellinbank would be favoured to keep its unbeaten run going but will be wary of a Nilma-Darnum side that is on the improve.

The Bombers upset finals aspirant Poowong a fortnight ago and pushed another top five team in Lang Lang early last week.

Expect the Bombers to be competitive early but Ellinbank should kick away on its home ground to further strengthen its hold on the minor premiership - that prize bringing a week off to freshen up before finals.

Buln Buln will look to continue its recent strong form and further consolidate in the top five when it hosts Nyora.

Good wins over Neerim-Neerim South and Trafalgar in the past fortnight have set up the opportunity for the Lyrebirds, who could move a game clear of Lang Lang and Poowong who currently hold up the back end of the five but will not play this week having already met on Good Friday.

Addressing his players after the win over Trafalgar, coach Michael Kruen said while the result proves they are a good side, they need to acknowledge there is a long way to go and they still need to work hard.

That starts this week in not dropping a dangerous game against the Saints.

Yarragon, Lang Lang and Poowong have byes.

MID GIPPSLAND

After a “wake up call”, third placed Foster will want to carve its way through the visiting Thorpdale on Saturday.

Blues coach Ray Pickering would have liked his side’s response to a loss when it cruised over the top of Toora.  But this week’s challenge is a few steps ahead of that - and will be a very clear indication of where they need to be in the seasons ahead.

Foster is very much part of both the finals and premiership conversation. 

With just three round to go, it may be hard for coaches to motivate without a “finals carrot” to dangle.  However, this gives opportunity to “shock” a side destined for bigger things and celebrate it like a final.

In some ways, it could also help a club like Thorpdale sell themselves as a future improver when recruiting.

Foster is on track for 2021 and Thorpdale is looking to 2022 and a move up the ladder.

Hill End has the bye this week.

The other games will all be played in South Gippsland, with five of the six former Alberton League clubs hosting games.

Fifth placed Yinnar will be a tough prospect at home against sixth placed MDU who must approach this game like a final; fourth placed Fish Creek will be aiming for a coveted top two place and fine tuning its line-up at home against the inexperienced Newborough; Tarwin will seek to strut its stuff at Shark Park and disrupt the aspirations of the fancied Mirboo North; Stony Creek will be eyeing its first victory of the season on its home ground against a capable Boolarra; and Toora has a make or break game against the inconsistent Morwell East sitting on the edge of the top six.

WEST GIPPSLAND

Phillip Island travel to Dalyston tomorrow for a top of the table V bottom of the table match.

The match should see the Bulldogs record a convincing win and a further boost to its percentage as it tries to edge further away from Inverloch Kongwak.

Inverloch Kongwak take on Bunyip at home in what should be near perfect winter football conditions.

The crisp, cool conditions with a slight breeze will favour the Sea Eagles, however Bunyip will be keen to make up for last week’s loss to Kilcunda Bass.

Kilcunda Bass may not be as lucky for a win this week when it takes on Garfield.

The Stars are at home and still smarting from last week’s loss to Tooradin Dalmore, which more than doubled the score.

Cora Lynn also will be trying to rein in Tooradin Dalmore as the tussle for the fourth and fifth ladder positions.

The Cobras were pleased to get the four points last week over the Industrials.

The Dusties are away this week travelling to Nar Nar Goon.  It will be a hard-fought affair with NNG still basking in the glory of last week’s demolition win over Dalyston.

Korumburra Bena travels across the hills to Koo Wee Rup for what should be a well matched game, but one that will not have much effect on ladder positions.