READY TO LOCK HORNS: Eaglehawk's John Carter and South Bendigo's Don Sherman will be grand final foes in Sunday's BBD division one clash at Bendigo. Picture: LUKE WEST

EAGLEHAWK and South Bendigo will face off in their first Bendigo Bowls Division pennant grand final against each other for 26 years on Sunday.

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The Hawks and South were the top two teams on the ladder after the home and away season and will tussle for the premiership at Bendigo.

The Hawks have carried the tag as flag favourites for the bulk of the season after they jumped out of the gates strongly, winning their first eight games.

South has endured an up-and-down season – it won its first four games, but is 4-6 in its past 10 – yet proved in round 13 with its 29-shot win over the Hawks just how damaging it can be.

Eaglehawk is striving for its first premiership since 2008-09 – the Hawks have lost four grand finals since – while South last won the division one flag in 1993-94.

ON THE MAT: Eaglehawk's Frank Byrne. The Hawks have lost their past four grand finals since winning their last premiership in 2008-09. Picture: LUKE WEST

SIMON CARTER (EH) V RYAN TAINTON (SB)

Carter’s is the No.4 ranked rink for Eaglehawk, but has been in good form with four-straight wins, which included a 27-19 victory over Tainton in the qualifying final a fortnight ago.

Tainton’s rink has a 4-2 record since the mid-season break, which included being the first to defeat Eaglehawk’s Dean Carter when South flogged the Hawks 107-78 in round 13.

Rink stats:

SIMON CARTER

Points: 18 Shots: +35

Record (W-L-D): 8-5-2

Avg for: 23.3

Avg agst: 20.6

RYAN TAINTON

Points: 18 Shots: +34

Record: 8-6-2

Avg for: 22.6

Avg agst: 20.2

Tip – Carter by 3.

………………………………

BRAYDEN BYRNE (EH) V MITCH SIDEBOTTOM (SB)

BIG GAME PLAYER: Emerging South Bendigo star Dale Oddy will be a player to watch in Sunday's grand final. Picture: LUKE WEST

Sidebottom is South’s No.1 ranked rink, while Byrne is the Hawks’ No.2, setting up a pivotal contest.

Sidebottom’s rink heads into the grand final off the back of four-straight wins, which started with a 35-14 hiding of the Hawks’ Tony Ellis in round 13.

Byrne’s rink is 4-1 in its five games since the mid-season break and was the Hawks’ biggest winning rink in the qualifying final against South when it beat Brad Holland by 10.

Rink stats:

BRAYDEN BYRNE

Points: 21 Shots: +24

Record: 9-3-3

Avg for: 23.9

Avg agst: 22.0

MITCH SIDEBOTTOM

Points: 19 Shots: +18

Record: 8-5-3

Avg for: 24.5

Avg agst: 23.2

Tip – Sidebottom by 4.

………………………………

TONY ELLIS (EH) V LIAM CRAPPER (SB)

Ellis’ rink has come up short against South Bendigo in their past two clashes, losing 32-25 to Mitch Sidebottom in the qualifying final and 35-14, again to Sidebottom, in round 13.

At least this time Ellis’ rink hasn’t drawn Sidebottom, with its opponent to be Liam Crapper.

Crapper’s rink has just the one victory in its past four games, but it did win the crucial final end of last week’s preliminary final against Bendigo East to propel South into the grand final.

Ellis’ +42 is the biggest shot difference of the eight grand final rinks.

Rink stats:

TONY ELLIS

Points: 18 Shots: +42

Record: 8-5-2

Avg for: 24.1

Avg agst: 20.9

LIAM CRAPPER

Points: 19 Shots: +7

Record: 8-5-3

Avg for: 23.2

Avg agst: 22.7

Tip – Ellis by 2.

………………………………

DEAN CARTER (EH) V BRAD HOLLAND (SB)

Carter ended the home and away season as the top-ranked skipper in the competition, but has lost twice in his past three games, both against South Bendigo.

Holland’s is the fourth-ranked rink for South Bendigo and is coming off a pair of losses in the two lead-up finals.

Rink stats:

DEAN CARTER

Points: 22 Shots: +36

Record: 9-2-4

Avg for: 23.1

Avg agst: 20.3

BRAD HOLLAND

Points: 16 Shots: +29

Record: 7-7-2

Avg for: 23.5

Avg agst: 21.5