As far as punters are concerned, the Dragons are number one.

Sandhurst has been heavily backed with Sportsbet to win the BFNL premiership.

“Strathfieldsaye opened as the $2.50 favourites, but the money for Sandhurst has seen them take over at the top of the market,’’ sportsbet.com.au spokesman Christian Jantzen said.

“Sandhurst have come in from $3 to $2.25. Golden Square is the only other side punters are keen on and they’ve come in from $4.00 to $3.50.”

Sandhurst, which has been without key players in all three of its games, lost to Strathfieldsaye in round one, humiliated Maryborough in round two and blew South Bendigo away in the second half last week.

The winless Gisborne won’t be a major test either, but it’s the way the undermanned Dragons have won their past two  games that has impressed footy fans.

Gisborne is the $101 outsider of the competition in premiership betting.

The young Bulldogs have battled gallantly each week, but they don’t have the class of the top five teams.

They’ve stuck with their higher-rated opponents for the first half before falling away in the latter stages of the game.

The Bulldogs have added some experience and class to their team this week.

Club champion Ollie Messaoudi returns to action after missing last week’s match, while young gun Lachlan Crosbie has been picked to play his first game of the season.