The race for the BDCA premiership is down to three teams.
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That's the opinion of the club captains not involved in this weekend's semi-finals.
Four of the six skippers said semi-final combatants Golden Square and Strathdale-Maristians were best placed to win the premiership, while the other two tipped Eaglehawk to grab the flag.
There was little love for Huntly-North Epsom.
The Golden Square versus Strathdale semi-final at Wade Street garnered the most interest from the skippers.
Strathfieldsaye's Ben Devanny, White Hills' Mitch Winter-Irving and Kangaroo Flat's Brent Hamblin both declared the winner of the Dogs-Suns clash would go on and win the premiership a week later.
"I like Golden Square, but I'd be worried about Strathdale, particularly if Sam Johnston plays,'' Devanny said.
"Square have been the standout team all year, but Strathdale's experience could be the difference now that they have some good form behind them,'' Winter-Irving added.
"Golden Square has the best batting in the competition and Strathdale has the finals experience. Eaglehawk's batting is a worry, while Huntly doesn't have the finals experience,'' Hamblin said.
Bendigo captain Shane Koop said Golden Square deserved to be flag favourite.
"Golden Square finished two games clear on top so that indicates how good a year they've had,'' Koop said.
"They have a lot of depth, but within that depth there are clear roles which mix in nicely."
Koop said Square's inability to win finals in recent years would count for little.
"The fact they have played finals means they can turn it into a positive and leverage off that."
Sandhurst skipper Taylor Beard and Bendigo United captain Leigh McDermott like the Borough's chances.
"If Golden Square and Eaglehawk get through to the grand final then I like Eaglehawk because they've been there and done it before,'' McDermott said.
"Having seen Eaglehawk last week, their bowling is very good. They just need to post a score and they'll defend it,'' Beard added.
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