LEADER: Birchip-Watchem coach Lochie Sirett. The Bulls are undefeated in the North Central league.

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WHAT is already an undefeated Birchip-Watchem team will be strengthened on Saturday by the return of one of its stars, Nathan Gordon, for the Bulls’ top-of-the-ladder clash against Wycheproof-Narraport.

A hamstring injury has kept X-factor Gordon – a former Richmond and Sydney player – out of the Bulls’ past four games, but he returns in time for the battle between the competition’s two heavyweights.

While Birchip-Watchem (11-0) is unbeaten, the only defeat Wycheproof-Narraport (10-1) has suffered so far is a 38-point loss to the Bulls in round five.

After the Demons beat the Bulls by 12 points in last year’s grand final, the two sides are firmly on track to meet again in the decider on September 15.

“It’s always a bitter feeling when you come up against a rival that has beaten you in the previous year’s grand final, so we’re relishing the opportunity to get another crack at Wyche on Saturday,” first-year Bulls’ coach Lochie Sirett said on Friday.

Sirett says one of the keys to the Bulls’ strong season so far has been red-hot competition for spots.

NORTH CENTRAL – Bulls, Demons set for heavyweight clash

As well as the senior team being undefeated, the reserves are also performing well with just one loss and also sitting on top.

“We’ve got some really good up-and-coming young talent and we’ve had weeks where we’ve had three or four guys missing out on the reserves, so that puts pressure on right throughout for spots,” Sirett said.

“On the local talent alone, it’s a bit of a luxury, let alone having the players we’ve gone out and recruited and those that we’ve retained.”

One of those players the Bulls retained from last year was key forward Stephen Paulke, who is the competition’s leading goalkicker with 51.

• How they stack up:

Birchip-Watchem:

Record: 11-0, 216.6%

Average for: 101

Average against: 47

Quarters won: 37 of 44

Wycheproof-Narraport:

Record: 10-1, 141.2%

Average for: 83

Average against: 58