THE race for finals positions in Bendigo Premier League tennis is hotting up, with only 13 premiership points separating third-placed Bendigo Lawn Boltons and fifth-placed Spring Gully Bigpond. Bendigo Lawn Boltons will need to be at its absolute best when it takes on ladder leaders Bendigo Lawn National today. In an important game for Boltons, it will need all its best players firing, to match it with the reigning premiers and keep hold of third position.A key match-up in this game is the battle between number one players Curt Garwood and Leroy Miller.Garwood has generally had the better of the clashes, and will enter the match-up as firm favourite.The National will look to Ward Garwood, Sam Storer, Tom Metherall and Nick Bath to support Curt Garwood. They should have the answers for the Boltons team of Miller, Fraser McCarthy, Dean Harris, Danny Watson and Andrew Harrison.The women’s sets will likely be tight, with the Boltons line-up of Rebecca Tweed, Chloe McKenzie and Michelle Rodwell all in good recent form. The National will be hoping the return of Tamara Wright can bolster its line-up, which should give it the depth to win its share of sets.Verdict: Lawn National 11 sets to four.South Bendigo Hibernian will be desperate to cash in against Bendigo Lawn Metro today. In a crucial match for South, a good win could see the team snatch third place off Bendigo Lawn Boltons.However, Bendigo Lawn Metro will be keen to show it is no pushover and will be keen to lock in its second win of the season. The form of the Metro men has been competitive all year, with Andrew Lethlean, Blake Poyser, Travis Johnston, Zach Lethlean and Tim McNamara all fit and available. They will likely have closely fought sets with South’s Pat McMillian, Frank Ryan, Simon Kelly, Michael Nhill and Grant Leader.In the women’s, South will be hoping Ashlea Baker, Ellie Gladman and Paige Ipsen can continue to build their form towards the finals. Verdict: South to win nine sets to six.Spring Gully Brougham Arms will be keen to inflict its third-successive defeat of club rivals Spring Gully Bigpond when the teams clash this afternoon.The Broughie have won both encounters this year, by eight sets to seven in round four and a more decisive 11 sets to four in round nine.However, the Broughie team will have to encounter a Bigpond team, which is expecting the return of gun player Eliza Long, for her first Premier League clash of 2012.The young champ participated in this week’s Junior Australian Open, and will bring that form to the court against the Danielle Bowles, Bronwyn Osborne and Lynda Gallagher.Verdict: Broughie 8-7 on games difference.