The Pioneers play the Northern Knights at Preston on Saturday in the NAB League's wildcard round.

The winner advances to the NAB League finals series.

The top three clubs on the NAB League ladder - Eastern, Gippsland and Oakleigh - advanced straight to the finals, while the remaining 10 teams play in the wildcard round.

Northern Knights finished sixth on the ladder - five places above the Pioneers,

However, the Pioneers did defeat the Knights by six goals a month ago.

"If you win you keep going, so every game for us is an elimination final,'' Pioneers' coach Rick Coburn said.

"The boys are really excited about the opportunity that's in front of them.

"We don't fear anyone. We played pretty well against everyone.

"Hopefully, we can give ourselves a chance to play a couple more games."

The Pioneers' recent form is better than their ladder position indicates.

Impressive wins over Northern Knights and Tasmania were mixed with narrow defeats to second-placed Gippsland, fifth-placed Calder and the GWV Rebels.

Coburn said his side was peaking at the right time of the season.

"Everyone is playing their role really well at the moment,'' Coburn said.

"It's been a focus for this young, developing side that they really understand what their expectations of their football is and what we need them to do in their particular part of the ground.

"We've worked hard on that all year, particularly in the past two months, and we feel the boys are playing good footy as a collective."

Bendigo's cause hasn't been helped by the absence of injured key defender Braydon Vaz.

Vaz suffered concussion in last week's loss to Gippsland.

BENDIGO PIONEERS

B: 31. R. Ironside, 34. W. Wallace, 44. S. O'Farrell

HB: 59. R. Clarke, 20. J. Schischka, 38. B. Rowles

C: 27. C. Smith, 4. T. Dow, 26. N. Walsh

HF: 1. S. Conforti, 36. A. Robinson, 29. J. Ginnivan

F: 17. L. Fitzgerald, 22. J. Treacy, 19. B. Worme

R: 11. A. Gundry, 9. E. Roberts, 6. J. Rodi

Int: 45. T. Atkinson, 48. J. Guiney, 2. J. Hickman, 25. W. Shaw, 21. R. Wilson

23P: 40. J. Evans

In: J. Hickman, J. Guiney, C. Smith

Out: S. Mitchell, B. Vaz

WILDCARD ROUND

Sandringham Dragons v Geelong Falcons

Northern Knights v Bendigo Pioneers

Calder Cannons v Tasmania Devils

Western Jets v Greater Western Victoria Rebels

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