ONLY one undefeated team will be left standing in the Loddon Valley Football League after Pyramid Hill and Bridgewater clash in a blockbuster at Mitchell Park on Saturday.
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The Bulldogs and Mean Machine are both 5-0 and the only unbeaten teams heading into round seven.
As well as being two unbeaten teams, the game also pits the best defensive side so far (Bridgewater) against the highest-scoring (Pyramid Hill).
While the game shapes as the perfect opportunity for Pyramid Hill to show its wares against the four-time defending premiers, equally, Bridgewater is using the game as a gauge of just where the Mean Machine is at.
"Going up to Pyramid Hill is going to be a big test and we're certainly looking forward to the contest," Bridgewater coach Andrew Collins said on Friday.
"We think we're building quite nicely, but Pyramid Hill has been the other benchmark in the competition, so we'll find out a bit about ourselves on Saturday."
Collins is still at least a month away from resuming from his broken collarbone, while the Mean Machine's other ex-AFL player, Will Thursfield, who hasn't played a game yet, is also still facing another month on the sidelines after tearing his hamstring tendon.
When the two sides last met, Bridgewater defeated Pyramid Hill by five points in extra time in last year's qualifying final.
"We always seem to have a good battle with Bridgewater, and with them being the yardstick, we want to test ourselves against them and see exactly where we're at," Pyramid Hill coach Paul Grayling said.
"We just want to play our style of footy... we want to be hard at it, accountable, do the little things right and play good team footy.
"There's going to be no one person who will win the game for us. We need everyone to chip in and do their bit.
"The boys know what's expected and I'm confident they can stand up."
The Bulldogs have added to their already impressive forward stocks with the inclusion this week of Troy Parker from Leitchville-Gunbower.
"He's a really good size, is athletic and can play anywhere, so he's going to be a great addition for us with his flexibility," Grayling said.
Saturday's Pyramid Hill-Bridgewater clash at Pyramid Hill starts at 2.15pm.
• TALE OF THE TAPE:
Won: Bridgewater 5; Pyramid Hill 5.
Lost: Bridgewater 0; Pyramid Hill 0.
Average for: Bridgewater 113; Pyramid Hill 122.
Average score against: Bridgewater 46; Pyramid Hill 83.
Average winning margin: Bridgewater 67 points; Pyramid Hill 39 points.
Quarters won: Bridgewater 17; Pyramid Hill 15.
