by Nicholas Duck
Warragul and Drouin both welcome premiership challengers to their homes this week in what will be tough assignments for both of them.
Warragul vs Traralgon
Warragul were brought undone by a genuine finals team last week and the assignment doesn't get any easier this weekend as they meet Traralgon.
The Gulls showed some signs - and fight - against Moe, but the gulf in class between what the two clubs were able to put onto the field was always going to be too large to ignore.
Injury has plagued them like few other teams but they'll have to pick themselves back up very quickly this week as they face off with the team that has plenty to prove.
The Maroons were absolutely poleaxed by Leongatha, meaning their last two games against the top two teams have resulted in thrashings by 60+ points.
With the battle for top three - and a double chance - so tight, they can ill afford too many more slip ups.
It leaves the Gulls with a fairly Herculean task here as they look to find some joy before the end of the season.
They lose some of their talented youth in a raft of changes, although the return of Sam Fennell, Will Hatfield and Sean Masterson will give them the experience they've lacked for some time.
It's a big task that lies in front of them. Can they rise to the challenge?
Drouin vs Wonthaggi
Drouin are on the comedown after their brush with AFL royalty last week as they turn their attention to a clash with the most in-form team going around.
While the Hawks were the scene of Ablett-mania, they were unable to get the result they wanted on the field, instead falling short by under 10 points for the fifth time this year.
They came home with a wet sail, winning the hard ball and making their opponents play a style they were uncomfortable with, but as has often been the case a slow start cost them - at one point they trailed by 42 points.
And the hits keep coming, given the calibre of their opponent this week.
Wonthaggi are on a 10-game winning streak, having conquered every other side in the league thus far.
Confidence is at an all-time high at the Power they're looking as likely as anyone to be there come the pointy end of the season.
Interestingly, however, their win over Drouin in that streak came by just nine points, a much closer affair than most of the other results.
The Hawks even led in the final term of that game, very nearly causing the upset away from home.
They'll be hoping to show a similar spirit this time around, otherwise a sizeable loss could be looming.
Other games
Morwell will look to keep their finals hopes alive when they play Maffra.
The Tigers are out of the five by just one win, and should they get the job done here suddenly the race home looks very interesting.
Maffra captured a solid win last week as they continue their rebuild and shouldn't be written off here as they aim to cause some havoc.
Moe and Sale face off in a top five tussle.
The Magpies need to keep winning to stave off challengers to their fifth spot, but things are going to be hard against the third-placed Lions.
Will they be desperate enough to take a win?
Finally, Bairnsdale hosts Leongatha.
It's been a disappointing year from the Redlegs, who began it brightly but have won just one of their last 10 games.
The Parrots, who remain perched atop the ladder, will be licking their lips for this one.