GOOD friends and team-mates in a Victorian Netball League grand final just last week, Chelsea Sartori and Abbey Ryan will be foes in their BFNL final round match at Dower Park on Saturday - and with plenty at stake.
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Sartori and her Kangaroo Flat team-mates will do battle with Ryan's Eaglehawk, with the crucial double chance up for grabs.
The Roos and Hawks enter the match level on 54 points, with the winner to join reigning premiers Sandhurst and Gisborne in the top three.
For the loser, a cut-throat elimination final contest against South Bendigo awaits the following weekend.
Their equal points tallies tell only half the story about how close and evenly matched Kangaroo Flat and Eaglehawk have been this season.
The teams played out a draw in their round nine contest at Canterbury Park, one of three tied matches involving the Hawks this season.
They tied twice with South Bendigo, one which was called off due to weather.
The irony of lining up against her Boroondara Express VNL team-mate Ryan in such a critical match is not lost on Roos skipper Sartori.
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"I really enjoyed playing with Abbey again," she said, after both players played in different VNL teams the previous season.
"We played a lot of representative netball together when we were a bit younger and it was nice to come back and play with her again.
"Now it will be interesting playing against her, and in such an important match with the double chance on the line. She is such a key player."
While the double chance would certainly further enhance their claims, Sartori is confident the Roos could be a major player in September regardless, with a win already this season over top-side Sandhurst and two narrow losses to second-placed Gisborne, by one and four goals.
"On their day I'm sure anyone in the top five can take it out, it's quite even this year," she said.
"I definitely have belief in the playing group that we can go all the way, it's just a matter of getting out there on the court and doing it."
Eaglehawk ignited its season with a win two weeks ago at Gisborne and followed up with an impressive 21 goal victory at Canterbury last week against Kyneton.
It's wins of that ilk that Ryan says has her team-mates heading into Saturday's away clash with confidence.
"Flat is obviously a good side all across the court, so it's definitely going to be a tough game," the star goal attack said.
"We just need four consistent quarters, lots of defensive pressure and to be patient with the ball.
"Being the only team to have beaten Gisborne twice shows what we are capable of and what we can achieve when we do string four consistent quarters together."
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Ryan, who has been joined in the circle this season by Imogen Davies, insists the Hawks are a better combination than the one which drew with the Roos earlier in the year, but concedes their opponents have similarly grown in confidence and strength.
"I feel we are hitting good form coming to the end of the season with our work at training on our defensive pressure," she said.
"Hopefully it won't be another draw."
In other games, Strathfieldsaye (seventh) and Maryborough (eighth) clash in a game to determine which finishes higher on the ladder.
The Storm holds a two point lead over the Magpies and can finish as high as sixth with a win, if Kyneton loses to Sandhurst, which is already assured of top spot.
At Gardiner Reserve, Gisborne will be keen to bounce back from consecutive defeats to Eaglehawk and Sandhurst against Golden Square.
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