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IN football terms it's the ultimate "eight point" game.
Strathfieldsaye and Bendigo are among the three teams on 27 points that fill positions four to six on the BDCA ladder and are set to face off at Atkins Street as the two-day format returns on Saturday.
The other team in the bunch, the surging Kangaroo Flat, which occupies fourth spot, should bank another six points when it takes on bottom side Bendigo United, meaning there's a strong possibility that the loser of the Goers-Jets clash will find themselves a game, plus percentage, outside the top four with three rounds remaining.
"We were in a similar situation last week against Kangaroo Flat (5th v 6th) when we got outclassed... we made a few silly mistakes with our running between the wickets and they took their opportunities and really found us out," Jets captain Ben Devanny said on Friday.
"But the good thing is we get another crack and we just need to make sure we bat out the day, not lose early wickets and someone can go on and get a big score."
The Jets last week squandered the chance to move into the top four when they copped an eight wicket hiding off Kangaroo Flat after they could muster just 89 batting first.
And therein lies the biggest query of the Jets - their batting, which has been heavily reliant on Devanny (332 runs) this season.
Emerging batsman Callum McCarty (174) and import Chathura Damith (133) are the only other players with more than 100 runs for the season, with the Jets rated last in the Addy's batting rankings, while they are at No.3 with the ball.
"We've played some good cricket this year, but when we've lost we've been really touched up. We've been playing four or five teenagers every week, so we're going to have good and bad days. Hopefully, Saturday is one of those good days," Devanny said.
While the Jets - whose side includes teenagers Darcy Hunter (16), Jed Rodda (18), Seamus Dwyer (18) and McCarty (19) - are coming off a loss last week, Bendigo desperately needs to restore momentum in its season.
The Goers sat second on the ladder after five rounds, but with three losses in their past four games - including a 126-run hiding from Strathdale last week - they have slipped out of the four.
Round 10 games:
Batting/bowling ranks in brackets
* Golden Square (4th/6th) v Eaglehawk (9th/9th)
* Bendigo United (8th/10th) v Kangaroo Flat (3rd/4th)
* White Hills (2nd/8th) v Strathdale (1st/2nd)
* Sandhurst (7th/5th) v Huntly-North Epsom (6th/1st)
* Bendigo (5th/7th) v Strathfieldsaye (10th/3rd)
POWER-SUNS TO CLASH IN ONE-DAY FINAL ON MARCH 1
STRATHDALE-Maristians and Huntly-North Epsom will face off in the BDCA's Keck-Findlay Shield one-day final on Sunday, March 1.
The BDCA confirmed the date on Friday, but a venue is still to be locked in. However, it won't be at the QEO.
The QEO is hosting the AFLW match between Geelong and Richmond the previous day.
The Suns and Power were the only two teams to win all four of their one-day games.
BDCA one-day records: Huntly-North Epsom (4-0), Strathdale (4-0), Kangaroo Flat (2-2), Sandhurst (2-2), Strathfieldsaye (2-2), White Hills (2-2), Bendigo (1-3), Bendigo United (1-3), Eaglehawk (1-3), Golden Square (1-3).
SPIRIT OF CRICKET STANDINGS
The latest standings in the BDCA's Barry Ayres Spirit of Cricket award:
Eaglehawk (75.25), Bendigo (74.25), White Hills (73.75), Golden Square (73.54), Strathdale (73.29), Strathfieldsaye (73.29), Sandhurst (73.00), Kangaroo Flat (71.49), Bendigo United (71.33), Huntly-North Epsom (71.00).
YOUNG GUNS IN SUPER SERIES
The Bendigo quartet of Lindsay Simpson (under-14 female), Cailin Green (under-17 female), Latesha Bawden (under-17 female) and Bradman Constable (under-16 male) have been in action this week, competing in Cricket Victoria's Youth Super Series for Renegades Country.
The Youth Super Series features players selected by Cricket Victoria talent specialists following strong performances in the Youth Premier League and split into four teams in each division - Renegades Country, Renegades Metro, Stars Country and Stars Metro - each playing three T20 games this week.
UPPER LODDON ROUND 13
Saturday's matches - Boort-Yando v Arnold, Inglewood v Serpentine, Newbridge v Kingower, Wedderburn v Bridgewater.
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