AFTER four near misses, Sandhurst will head to Golden Square today desperate to claim the scalp of one of the Bendigo Football League’s top three sides for the first time this season.The Dragons sit in fourth position on the ladder with a 7-5 record, but just can’t beat a side above them.They have played the three sides above them – Golden Square, South Bendigo and Eaglehawk – four times this season and have lost by respectable margins of 33, 30, 30 and 25 points.The Dragons have been close, but as gallant as they have been, they haven’t been able to put four quarters together to claim that elusive prized scalp.“From my point of view, what that shows is we have the ability to compete with these teams, it’s just being able to do it long enough, or being able to close games out,’’ Sandhurst coach Keiran Nihill said yesterday.“It hasn’t always come down to the last quarter; on a couple of occasions it has probably been our efforts in the first quarter or prior to half-time that have let us down.“I remember the South Bendigo game (round seven) when we kicked 5.7 in the first half, and the Golden Square game (round four) we were up at half-time, and then came out and kicked it out of bounds four times in the second half.“I’d love to get over one of these sides, and I think it would make a big difference when it finally happens, but for this game against the best side in the competition, I just want to make sure we’re in the contest early to give ourselves an opportunity.’’The Dragons showed under lights at the Queen Elizabeth Oval in round four that they are more than capable of matching it with the reigning premiers.The Dragons led by 23 points midway through the second quarter, but they were unable to hold off a Golden Square revival as the Bulldogs pulled away in the second half to win by 30 points, 17.11 (113) to 12.11 (83).Showing how competitive the Dragons were that night, they had 51 forward 50 entries to Golden Square’s 44.The difference though was the Bulldogs had Grant Weeks stand up and kick nine goals, while the Dragons’ leading goalkicker was midfielder Ben Duscher with three.“We can certainly compete with them; I don’t think there’s any secret about that,’’ Nihill said.“But to get some respect, you’ve eventually got to win one of these games.“We’re coming off what I would consider our poorest performance of the season last week against Eaglehawk.“We weren’t beaten by a huge amount, but I thought we played as poor as we have over four quarters, so we want to bounce back from that with a really committed effort.“We’ll try to get our side set-up the best way we can against Golden Square, so we’re certainly going there to win the game and take it right up to them.’’One player the Dragons – who last played finals in 2007 – will be without today is Mark Fitzgerald.Fitzgerald made his return to the senior side for the first time since round one last week after overcoming a knee injury.But the same problem has again flared up and there’s now a cloud over the remainder of the 2004 premiership forward’s season.“To be honest, Fitzy is probably gone for the year,’’ Nihill said.“It’s the same knee problem he has had and he’s just battling to get through.“It was his call where he came and saw me last night and said, ‘I don’t think I’m right to play’.“It’s disappointing because he’s done everything we’ve asked of him to try to get himself up.’’However, key defender Mal Borchard will line up for the Dragons and will get the job on century-goalkicker Weeks.Borchard left the ground in the first few minutes of last week’s loss to the Hawks with a hamstring injury, but he has trained strongly this week.