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LOCKINGTON-Bamawm United is preparing itself for a double challenge in the Heathcote District league on Saturday.
Firstly, the task of playing North Bendigo poses a tough ask given the Bulldogs don't lose too often these days - they are 93-16 since 2014 and have dished out plenty of big hidings in recent years to the Cats.
But when you factor in the Cats are taking on the Bulldogs at Atkins Street, the magnitude of the task at hand becomes all the more challenging.
It has now been more than four years since the Bulldogs were last beaten at home, with the club's Atkins Street winning streak now at 34 games in a row.
The last visiting team to emerge victorious from the small confines of Atkins Street was Leitchville-Gunbower on June 13, 2015, when the Bombers won 18.15 (123) to 16.4 (100).
Since that day only one team has got within five goals of the Bulldogs on their home deck when Mount Pleasant was beaten by 29 points in round eight of 2016.
You see, the Bulldogs haven't just beaten their opposition during their 34-game streak at home - they have absolutely beaten up on their visitors, with the hosts' average winning margin 102 points.
But could Saturday be the day "the streak" is finally broken at Atkins Street?
The Bulldogs were lethargic against Elmore last week and will confront an in-form LBU that's sitting second on the ladder and champing at the bit for a crack at their long-time nemesis. In their past four trips to Atkins Street the Cats have lost by 157, 142, 117 and 64 points.
"We understand it's a smaller ground at North, but we think we can play well on it. We're confident that we can use the ball really well and the fact we have so many avenues to goal, we think we can cause them a few headaches," LBU coach Kahl Oliver said on Friday.
"We know they have a big advantage playing on their home ground, but so do most teams."
Regardless of where the game is being played, Oliver says the Cats will have no excuses on Saturday given they are missing only veteran Nathan O'Brien (shoulder).
"We've been looking forward to this game for a while to be able to see where we're really at," Oliver said.
"We're pretty much fully fit apart from Nathan O'Brien, so there's no excuses for us."
The Cats have lost just two games for the season - one of which was a 24-point defeat to North Bendigo.
They have since reeled off six wins in a row by an average of 40 points and boast five of the competition's top 12 goalkickers in Thomas Leech (35), Patrick Gardiner (33), Lachlan Collins (32), Jarod Bacon (32) and Jacob Gardiner (27).
THE STREAK:
2015:
Round 10 - 26.25 (181) def LBU 3.6 (24).
Margin - 157 points.
Round 12 - 20.20 (140) def Huntly 9.10 (64).
Margin - 76 points.
Round 14 - 28.24 (192) def Heathcote 4.9 (33).
Margin - 159 points.
Round 17 - 25.19 (169) def Mount Pleasant 9.10 (64).
Margin - 105 points.
2016:
Round 1 - 16.20 (116) def Leitchville-Gunbower 11.15 (81).
Margin - 35 points.
Round 3 - 16.8 (104) def Elmore 8.19 (67).
Margin - 37 points.
Round 6 - 26.20 (176) def LBU 4.10 (34).
Margin - 142 points.
Round 8 - 17.9 (111) def Mount Pleasant 12.10 (82).
Margin - 29 points.
Round 11 - 28.20 (188) def Heathcote 4.7 (31).
Margin - 157 points.
Round 14 - 18.10 (118) def Colbinabbin 9.3 (57).
Margin - 61 points.
Round 16 - 19.28 (142) def White Hills 3.4 (22).
Margin - 120 points.
Round 18 - 26.19 (175) def Huntly 7.9 (51).
Margin - 124 points.
2017:
Round 2 - 27.25 (187) def Huntly 4.14 (38).
Margin - 149 points.
Round 5 - 25.20 (170) def LBU 8.5 (53).
Margin - 117 points.
Round 7 - 23.13 (151) def Leitchville-Gunbower 12.11 (83).
Margin - 68 points.
Round 9 - 25.27 (177) def Elmore 5.10 (40).
Margin - 137 points.
Round 10 - 37.31 (253) def Heathcote 4.4 (28).
Margin - 225 points.
Round 13 - 16.16 (112) def White Hills 11.13 (79).
Margin - 33 points.
Round 15 - 15.15 (105) def Colbinabbin 7.15 (57).
Margin - 48 points.
Round 17 - 30.24 (204) def Mount Pleasant 3.6 (24).
Margin - 180 points.
2018:
Round 2 - 25.16 (166) def Mount Pleasant 4.5 (29).
Margin - 137 points.
Round 4 - 21.17 (143) def White Hills 13.10 (88).
Margin - 55 points.
Round 7 - 34.25 (229) def Elmore 6.1 (37).
Margin - 192 points.
Round 9 - 14.13 (97) def Colbinabbin 10.6 (66).
Margin - 31 points.
Round 10 - 22.11 (143) def Leitchville-Gunbower 11.4 (70).
Margin - 73 points.
Round 12 - 15.6 (96) def Huntly 8.14 (62).
Margin - 34 points.
Round 14 - 18.14 (122) def LBU 8.10 (58).
Margin - 64 points.
Round 17 - 28.25 (193) def Heathcote 2.3 (15).
Margin - 178 points.
2019:
Round 1 - 30.11 (191) def Huntly 9.7 (61).
Margin - 130 points.
Round 3 - 14.12 (96) def White Hills 8.8 (56).
Margin - 40 points.
Round 6 - 27.15 (177) def Elmore 9.11 (65).
Margin - 112 points.
Round 8 - 23.26 (164) def Heathcote 6.3 (39).
Margin - 125 points.
Round 11 - 12.11 (83) def Leitchville-Gunbower 3.7 (25).
Margin - 58 points.
Round 13 - 22.13 (145) def Mount Pleasant 5.7 (37).
Margin - 108 points.
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