by Davyd Reid
Finals hopefuls Buln Buln and Ellinbank will meet in a contest that will headline round six of Ellinbank District football.
Despite having their challenges, Buln Buln enter in good form, having accounted for Trafalgar in a low-scoring affair last week.
The Lyrebirds dropped the opening round to the ladder leaders but have not dropped a game since, despite missing some key players through injury.
Ellinbank got Catani at a good time last week, securing some much-needed points and percentage to square the ledger and get their season back on track.
This clash will give a good indication of where the Bankers are at, with an opportunity to show they can match it with the better sides in the competition.
Form pre-pandemic and fielding a similar line up indicates it is still too early to write off Ellinbank just yet, but we should learn more following this contest.
Buln Buln at home and on current form should have a slight edge.
The battle of Waterloo will resume with Yarragon hosting Trafalgar.
This edition should be the closest contest between the sides in recent history, with the Panthers a much-improved side.
Trafalgar will be looking to respond after dropping the points last week and will start favourite, but won't be able to afford to take the Panthers lightly away from home.
Yarragon form part of a pack vying for the lower reaches of the top five, with this clash set to determine how far they have come.
A few upsets would help the Panthers in their quest, but one is not expected here.
Longwarry will look to hold their position in the top five when they travel down the road to take on Catani.
The Crows enter the clash fresh off the bye and won't want to relinquish their four-point advantage in fifth.
With teams below them boasting a superior percentage, an opportunity presents to improve their position against the struggling Blues.
Catani have been in better form at home but expect Longwarry to be too strong in this clash.
Poowong will travel to Nilma-Darnum looking to keep in touch with the top five.
Looking to return to finals football, this is a match the Magpies can ill afford to drop.
Poowong will also look to boost an already impressive percentage as it looks to separate from its mid-table rivals.
Neerim-Neerim South should keep its unbeaten record intact when it hosts Nyora.
The Saints will hope to take some inspiration from Lang Lang, who were able to control the contest at times in last week's match against the Cats.
Expect a competitive effort from Nyora, with the Cats to ultimately kick away for a comfortable victory.
Lang Lang have the bye.