Since the BFNL went to the top five format in 1983, the Golden Square team of 2001 is the only team to win the premiership from outside the top three on the ladder.

This year it's mighty hard to see any club outside of the big four - Eaglehawk, Golden Square, Sandhurst and Strathfieldsaye - making the top three.

That makes home and away matches played between those four teams vitally important.

For Sandhurst and Strathfieldsaye they are already 0-1 against fellow big four teams this year.

The Dragons capitulated in the second half against Golden Square in round one, while the Storm went down to Eaglehawk the same day.

The Dragons and Storm meet at Tannery Lane on Saturday and the loser of the match will give itself less room for error when it comes to making the top three.

"If you want to finish top three you have to beat the teams that are around or above you on the ladder,'' Sandhurst coach Andrew Collins said.

"Strathfieldsaye have been a dominant side for a few years now, so if we could sneak a win over them on Saturday it would help set our season up."

The Dragons have been strengthened by the return of number one ruckman Tim Martin and forward Daniel Connors.

Former Richmond player Connors hasn't played since round one because of work commitments.

His return adds another dimension to a Sandhurst forward line that has multiple targets.

"Our midfielders have been kicking goals as well and we've been pretty accurate which is not something we've been good at it,'' Collins said.

"We want to be direct with the way we move the footy and attack the goal face. If you go too wide then you're going to take more shots from difficult angles."

The Storm welcome back a host of key players from injury, including star forward Lachlan Sharp, coach Troy Coates and premiership defender Ben Lester.

Josh Hann has been the Sandhurst defender of choice to match-up on Sharp, but he remains on the sidelines.

Collins said it would take a team effort to restrict Sharp's influence on the game.

"Sharpy takes some serious stopping and we'll have some plans for him,'' Collins said.

"If you allow the Storm time and space through the middle then they're going to hit up their forwards, so we need to make sure we put them under pressure."

Saturday’s game is a special milestone for Storm premiership player Tom Dowd.

Dowd, a Gippsland Power TAC Cup premiership player in 2005, will play his 100th senior game for Strathfieldsaye since joining the club for the 2011 season.