Going into round 11, the Bulldogs are the only team to have beaten the Storm in 2017.

The Dogs jumped the Storm in the first half in round two and forced the Storm to play catch-up.

Expect the Storm to come out snarling early, particularly on their home turf. A victory on Saturday would give the Storm a 30-match unbeaten run on home soil.

Last time: Golden Square 11.13 (79) d Strathfieldsaye 9.11 (65).

CASTLEMAINE (1-9) v SANDHURST (6-3-1) – 2.20pm Saturday at Castlemaine.

This could get very ugly. The Magpies sunk to their lowest ebb last Saturday when they lost to the previous winless Maryborough by nine goals and now they face the reigning premiers on the rebound from a gallant defeat to Strathfieldsaye.

The Pies were humiliated by 199 points the last time these two sides met. With their pride on the line, surely the Pies are more competitive this time around.

Sandhurst still hasn’t hit top gear in 2017 and this game shapes as golden opportunity for some players to find form.

Last time: Sandhurst 32.22 (214) d Castlemaine 2.3 (15).

SOUTH BENDIGO (6-4) v GISBORNE (3-7) - 2.20pm Saturday at Harry Trott Oval.

Danger game for the Bloods. If they want to play finals this year it’s a game they can’t afford to drop.

Gisborne has been competitive in losses to Sandhurst and Kyneton in the past fortnight and the Dogs will be suited by the small confines of Harry Trott Oval.

Last time: South Bendigo 19.8 (122) d Gisborne 13.7 (85).

KYNETON (5-4-1) v MARYBOROUGH (1-9) – 2.20pm Saturday at Kyneton.

After breaking its three-year drought, Maryborough comes down off cloud nine for one of the toughest tasks in Bendigo footy – playing Kyneton at Kyneton.

Confidence levels will be high at Maryborough, but the Tigers are in a different class to Castlemaine.

Kyneton’s free-scoring style will be hard for the Magpies to quell over four quarters.

Last time: Kyneton 20.8 (128) d Maryborough 7.8 (50).

KANGAROO FLAT (2-8) v EAGLEHAWK (8-2) – 2.20pm Saturday at Kangaroo Flat.

Hard to see this game being close.

The Hawks are playing as well as any team in the competition, while the Roos don’t have the players forward of centre to kick a competitive score against the top five teams.

A key move for the Hawks in recent weeks has been the move of regular defender Brenton Conforti to half-forward. He has good hands, he is mobile and competitive and the Hawks look more potent.

Last time: Eaglehawk 14.11 (95) d Kangaroo Flat 8.9 (57).

TIPS: Kieran Iles (44) – Strathfieldsaye (11), Sandhurst (101), South Bendigo (32), Kyneton (64), Eaglehawk (88).

Luke West (42) – Strathfieldsaye (15),  Sandhurst (90), South Bendigo (18), Kyneton (54), Eaglehawk (70).

Richard Jones (42) – Strathfieldsaye (19),  Sandhurst (70), South Bendigo (29), Kyneton (80), Eaglehawk (48).

Adam Bourke (41) – Strathfieldsaye (5),  Sandhurst (110), South Bendigo (10), Kyneton (62), Eaglehawk (80).

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MARONG (1-9) v MITIAMO (6-5) – 2.20pm Saturday at Marong.

This game starts a crucial three-week period for Mitiamo leading into the bye.

If the Superoos are going to make a run for a top-three berth they need to score convincing wins over Marong, BL-Serpentine and Pyramid Hill in the next three weeks.

The first leg of the trifecta should be comfortable. Marong has shown flashes of good form this year, but the Panthers are yet to play four quarters of good footy against a quality team.

Last time: Mitiamo 16.13 (109) d Marong 9.6 (60).

BRIDGEWATER (8-3) v INGLEWOOD (1-10) – 2.20pm Saturday at Bridgewater.

After a sluggish start to the season, the Mean Machine is rolling and Saturday should bring a fifth-straight win for the reigning premiers.

Defensively, Bridgewater is on top of its game. The Mean Machine hasn’t conceded more than nine goals in their four-game winning streak.

That spells trouble for an Inglewood side that has kicked four and five goals in its past two matches.

Last time: Bridgewater 24.12 (156) d Inglewood 8.9 (57).

NEWBRIDGE (8-3) v MAIDEN GULLY/YCW (2-8) – 2.20pm Saturday at Newbridge.

With Mitiamo breathing down its next for third spot, Newbridge could do with a percentage boosting win over the battling Eagles.

The Eagles’ average losing margin is 50 points per game and the Maroons’ best footy is good enough to surpass that.

The Eagles have lost five games in a row and they haven’t kicked 10 goals or more in a game since their round six win over Marong.

Last time: Newbridge 10.18 (78) d Maiden Gully/YCW 8.6 (54).

BL-SERPENTINE (6-4) v PYRAMID HILL (5-6) – 2.20pm Saturday at Serpentine.

Biggest game of the season for these two teams. The fifth-placed Bears hold a one-game advantage over the sixth-placed Pyramid Hill, but the Bulldogs’ percentage is 14 per cent higher.

The Bulldogs’ past three clashes with top five teams have resulted in defeats of 30, 11 and 30 points. In two of those three games they were hurt by inaccuracy in front of goal. If they take their chances on Saturday they’ll be in the top five by 5pm.

Last time: BL-Serpentine 11.13 (79) d Pyramid Hill 9.8 (62).

TIPS: Adam Bourke (38) – Mitiamo (58), Bridgewater (82), Newbridge (66), Pyramid Hill (6).

Luke West (38) - Mitiamo (54), Bridgewater (72), Newbridge (40), BL-Serpentine (5).

Kieran Iles (32) - Mitiamo (40), Bridgewater (65), Newbridge (57), Pyramid Hill (12).​

……………………….

WHITE HILLS (6-4) v HUNTLY (5-4) – 2.20pm Saturday at White Hills.

Huge game for the Hawks after their narrow loss to North Bendigo last week.

On recent form, they should beat the Demons and stay in the race for the top three, but if they get ahead of themselves the Demons have the firepower to make the Hawks pay.

Last time: White Hills 14.14 (98) d Huntly 12.7 (79).

LBU (2-8) v HEATHCOTE (3-7) – 2.20pm Saturday at Lockington.

A golden opportunity for the LBU Cats to win three games in a row for the first time since their grand final triumph in 2014.

The young Cats have strung together wins over Mounts and Elmore and the battle with Heathcote looks a genuine 50-50 encounter.

Last time: Heathcote 14.13 (97) d LBU 6.14 (50).

COLBINABBIN (6-4) v ELMORE (2-8) – 2.20pm Saturday at Colbinabbin.

The Grasshoppers have won three of their past four matches and look to have too much firepower for the Bloods.

There was only 23 points between the two teams in round four, but Colbo has found another gear since then.

Last time: 15.10 (100) d Elmore 11.11 (77).

LEITCHVILLE-GUNBOWER (8-1) v MT PLEASANT (3-7) – 2.20pm Saturday at Gunbower.

This will be the biggest margin of the round. The Bombers are in a different class to the Blues.

The Bombers won by 124 points in round three and a similar margin is expected this weekend.

Last time: Leitchville-Gunbower 26.12 (168) d Mt Pleasant 7.2 (44).

TIPS: Adam Bourke (41) – Huntly (18), Heathcote (2), Colbinabbin (36), Leitchville-Gun. (106).

Luke West (41) - Huntly (30), LBU (3), Colbinabbin (48), Leitchville-Gun. (110).

Kieran Iles (35) - Huntly (17), LBU (11), Colbinabbin (47), Leitchville-Gunbower (88).​