A HDFNL A-grade netball season dominated by the top four teams is set to shift into overdrive this weekend.
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With only two rounds remaining ahead of finals, top spot on the ladder is still up for grabs and with it a crucial week's rest in the first week of finals.
That should be determined this weekend when reigning premiers Colbinabbin (12-2) and White Hills (12-2) clash at Tint-a-Car Oval.
Further down the table Leitchville-Gunbower (10-4) has not shut the door on a top three berth, with probable wins ahead against Heathcote and Elmore.
That scenario would rely on North Bendigo (11-3) losing at least one of its two remaining clashes against Mount Pleasant (5-9) and fifth-placed Huntly (7-7).
The Bulldogs' own solid form, coupled with Huntly's inability to defeat any of the top four so far this season, make the odds of a Hawks' upset in round 16 unlikely.
Barring huge upsets, Colbinabbin and White Hills should have little trouble securing wins against Mount Pleasant and Lockington-Bamawm United in round 16, making Saturday's clash a winner-take-all encounter for top spot.
That would leave North Bendigo in third spot, facing an intriguing first week of finals match-up against White Hills, and Leitchville-Gunbower pitted against Huntly in a cut-throat elimination final.
A qualifying final against White Hills would pose little worry for the Bulldogs, who have beaten the Demons twice this year, including 56-48 last weekend.
There's a feeling that a clear-cut premiership favourite is still to be determined, with most teams appearing to have a bogey team.
North Bendigo is 0-2 in games against Colbinabbin, White Hills 0-2 against the Bulldogs and Gunbower-Leitchville 0-2 against the Demons.
A Grasshoppers loss against White Hills this weekend would leave them 0-2 against the Demons.
At least one non-finals coach spoken to by the Bendigo Advertiser this week nominated White Hills as the team to beat and believed it was a view shared by plenty of league followers.
"To me they look a bit cleaner (with the ball) than the other teams - the other teams might get caught out in finals," she said.
"Colbinabbin is pretty strong and North Bendigo is always strong, but my opinion is they won't go as well in finals.
"I believe White Hills have the best skills out of the lot, especially Lauren Bowles in the midcourt - she's pretty unstoppable.
"And they have a good selection of shooters and they're all very handy.
“It will be interesting to see what comes of their game against Colbinabbin this weekend, but I still think they are the team to beat.”