by Davyd Reid
Longwarry will get another test of their finals credentials when they travel to take on second-placed Ellinbank in round 17 of Ellinbank District football.
Coming off its final bye, the Crows' credentials are set to be tested in a difficult fortnight with a clash against undefeated ladder leaders Buln Buln to follow.
Longwarry enters the final stretch in the box seat to make a return to playing finals, and its previous performance to overcome Lang Lang demonstrates it would belong.
Just how much they can pose a threat is set to be proven over the next two rounds.
They will face an Ellinbank side looking to shore up the valuable double chance, the Eagles and Lang Lang looking to ward off the challenges of Neerim-Neerim South and Longwarry who are both just one win behind.
Ellinbank will also have extra motivation to play well as they host their Fragile X round.
NEERIM-NEERIM SOUTH will jump into third should they do as tipped and account for 10th-placed Catani at home.
An improving Blues scored victory over Poowong last week, but with a double chance to play for the Cats should be too strong.
NILMA-DARNUM travel to Poowong looking for victory to keep their fading but mathematical chances alive.
The Bombers scored an impressive victory over finals-bound Lang Lang last week, increasing their percentage above 100 in the process.
Spirits were lifted even higher when Nathan Buckley showed up unannounced for the club function that followed.
Although making significant improvement this season, finals may be a bridge too far with matches against Neerim-Neerim South, Ellinbank and Buln Buln to close out the season.
They meet a Poowong side playing for pride, the Magpies being competitive in patches but finding it difficult to bring home the results.
YARRAGON hosts Trafalgar in the return battle for the Waterloo trophy.
These matches are always hotly contested regardless of ladder position, with Trafalgar scoring a narrow victory in a low-scoring affair last time out.
The Bloods sit three games outside the top five with four rounds to play, their lower percentage also a factor in the run home.
The Bloods must simply win this contest and win it well, while hoping Longwarry continue to fall.
BULN BULN host Nyora in a match between first and last place on the ladder.
The Lyrebirds would be expected to win and win well to further boost its percentage of 310, which is almost 100 percentage points better than any other side.
LANG LANG have the bye.