2.20pm, at Princes Park

You've got a dozen senior players out, you're coming off two heavy defeats and you have to front up to the ladder-leading team on the rebound from defeat.

Two words for Maryborough - "good luck".

The Pies can't win against Sandhurst on Saturday, but if they get within the 101-point margin from round one that would be a win of sorts.

All eyes will be on how Sandhurst's kicking skills fare. The Dragons' disposal last Saturday was well below their high standards.

Unless there's an influx of senior players at Maryborough's selection table - Sandhurst by plenty.

Last time: round one - Sandhurst 19.17 (131) d Maryborough 4.6 (30).

KANGAROO FLAT v EAGLEHAWK

2.20pm, at Dower Park

One month ago you would have pencilled in this game as a percentage booster for Eaglehawk.

While the Hawks still go in as warm favourite, their four-straight losses plus Kangaroo Flat's improved form does make the clash potentially closer.

The Borough is down on confidence and having trouble running out games, so the longer the young Roos can stay in the contest the more likely doubts will enter the Hawks' minds. Eaglehawk to win, but don't be surprised if it's still a contest well into the second half.

Last time: round one - Eaglehawk 13.15 (93) d Kangaroo Flat 3.3 (21).

GOLDEN SQUARE v KYNETON

2.20pm, at Wade Street

Golden Square has more class and depth than the Tigers and you can trust the Bulldogs.

Kyneton has produced some 15 minute patches of footy where it looks like the Tigers can match any team in the competition.

The problem is their next 15 minutes drops off significantly. That's what you get with a developing squad, but the good news for the loyal Kyneton fans is that coach Paul Chapman has them on the right track.

Square will be on a high after last week's eight-goal final term to down Eaglehawk.

One of the highlights of the day will be the one-on-one clash between Square key forward Jayden Burke and Kyneton's premier defender Harrison Huntley.

At home, Square should win by eight goals plus.

Last time: round one - Kyneton 8.8 (56) lt Golden Square 26.15 (171).

SOUTH BENDIGO v CASTLEMAINE

2.20pm, at QEO

The winless Pies produced one of their best performances of the season in the round one clash at the Camp Reserve.

They kept South Bendigo goalless for the first term and strung together some wonderful passages of play.

The season hasn't quite worked out how the Pies would have liked it, while the Bloods are sitting nicely in fifth place. The Bloods relish the open spaces of the QEO and they'll be keen to bolster their percentage in a bid to boost their finals hopes.

Last time: round one - Castlemaine 5.7 (37) lt South Bendigo 19.23 (137).

STRATHFIELDSAYE v GISBORNE

2.20pm, at Tannery Lane

Plenty of people around Bendigo footy circles are tipping these two teams as the most likely grand finalists in 2021.

The Storm's formline in the past six weeks is superior to the rest of the competition and, as a general rule, they rarely lose at home.

Gisborne did edge out the Storm in round one, but there's a big difference between playing the reigning premier at Tannery Lane and playing them at Gardiner Reserve.

The likely absence of the injured Kallen Geary hurts the Storm, but it also shines the light on arguably their biggest strength - depth. The Storm to win by three goals.

Last time: round one - Gisborne 13.13 (91) d Strathfieldsaye 12.18 (90).

Read more: Catch up on the latest BFNL news

1. Sandhurst

Record: 8-1, 171.6%

2. Gisborne

Record: 7-2, 221.8%

3. Strathfieldsaye

Record: 7-2, 219.7%

4. Golden Square

Record: 7-2, 172.0%

5. South Bendigo

Record: 6-3, 136.3%

.....

6. Eaglehawk

Record: 4-5, 160.7%

7. Kyneton

Record: 3-6, 71.1%

8. Kangaroo Flat

Record: 2-7, 45.7%

9. Maryborough

Record: 1-8, 49.7%

10. Castlemaine

Record: 0-9, 16.1%

..............................

Adam Bourke (37): Sandhurst, Eaglehawk, Golden Square South Bendigo, Strathfieldsaye

Luke West (37): Sandhurst, Eaglehawk, Golden Square South Bendigo, Strathfieldsaye

Richard Jones (36): Sandhurst, Eaglehawk, Golden Square South Bendigo, Strathfieldsaye

..............................

ELMORE v LBU

2.15pm, at Elmore

Elmore will wear its indigenous jumper for the first time and, in light of Dylan Gordon's brave stand against racial abuse this week, the Bloods will be pumped up to play well.

The problem is the Bloods are hosting the best team in the league in Lockington-Bamawm United.

After a somewhat disjointed first six or seven games of the season, the Cats are starting to get some continuity into their footy and, ominously for their rivals, we are startinng to see them build towards their best footy.

Elmore will be improved by the return from injury of some senior players, but the Cats will be too slick.

Last time: round four - LBU 31.8 (194) d Elmore 7.6 (48).

MT PLEASANT v HUNTLY

2.15pm, at Toolleen

It's D-day for Mount Pleasant.

If the Blues can't beat at Huntly at home then they can't be regarded as a genuine premiership contender.

On the flipside, a win for Huntly would open up the Hawks' finals hopes.

Huntly is arguably the most improved team in the competition.

Even Huntly's opponents in recent weeks have been glowing in their praise of the style of footy coach Stacy Fiske has his side playing.

This one looks like going down to the wire.

Last time: round four - Huntly 13.12 (90) d Mt Pleasant 8.7 (55).

COLBINABBIN v L'VILLE-GUNBOWER

2.15pm at Colbinabbin

The jury was out on Colbo earlier in the season, but the Hoppers have found their mojo.

Midfielder Ben Southam and half-back Ben Barton have been superb form as the Hoppers chase down LBU and White Hills in the top two spots.

Three wins on the trot should become four against the young Bombers.

Leitchville-Gunbower continues to blood youth and the Bombers never throw in the towel.

Last time: round four - Leitchville-Gunbower 2.4 (16) lt Colbinabbin 24.16 (160).

HEATHCOTE v WHITE HILLS

2.15pm, at Heathcote

When these two sides last met the underdog Saints had the Demons on the ropes during the second quarter.

After half-time it turned into the Jed Lamb show. he kicked 13 goals for the day and the Demons won by 98 points.

Times have changed for White Hills. The Demons have lost two of their past three games and had a six-point win Huntly.

With some tougher games looming on the horizon, the Demons would want to show some improved form against the Saints.

Last time: round four - White Hills 24.11 (155) d Heathcote 7.15 (57).

.........................................

Read more: Catch up on the latest HDFNL news

1. LBU

Record: 9-0, 296.3%

2. White Hills

Record: 8-2, 179.7%

3. Colbinabbin

Record: 6-3, 151.9%

4. North Bendigo

Record: 6-3, 99.7%

5. Mount Pleasant

Record: 4-5, 87.6%

.....

6. Huntly

Record: 3-6, 94.4%

7. Elmore

Record: 3-7, 59.6%

8. Heathcote

Record: 2-7, 77.2%

9. Leitchville-Gunbower

Record: 0-9, 36.0%

............................

Adam Bourke (35): LBU, Mounts, Colbinabbin, White Hills

Luke West (35): LBU, Mounts, Colbinabbin, White Hills

............................

CALIVIL UNITED v PYRAMID HILL

2.15pm, at Calivil

This game is all about percentage for Pyramid Hill.

The Bulldogs go into the second half of the season one game and percentage behind third-placed Marong and two games and percentage behind second-placed Bridgewater.

To give themselves the best chance of making it back to the grand final, the Dogs need to find their way to into the top three for the finals series.

Credit to coach Glen Scholtes, the Demons have improved significantly since round one. They don't have the depth to defeat the Dogs, but they'll make life tough for the visitors.

Last time: round three - Pyramid Hill 23.13 (151) d Calivil United 0.4 (4).

MARONG v MGYCW

2.15pm, at Marong

How many goals will Brandyn Grenfell kick this week?

Marong's mid-season recruit has kicked 22 goals in his first two games - albeit against two of the bottom three sides.

Saturday's match against the Eagles should be tougher, but the way the Panthers force teams into turnovers, Grenfell and sidekick Kain Robins could get some good looks inside 50.

The Eagles have been a tough up and down, but their best footy is good enough to trouble the top teams.

The scalp of a top-three team would do wonders for their finals chances.

Last time: round three - MGYCW 5.10 (40) lt Marong 20.11 (131).

INGLEWOOD v BRIDGEWATER

2.15pm, at Inglewood

Two great Loddon Valley rivals, but unfortunately it will be all one-way traffic on Saturday.

The Mean Machine are in a different class to Inglewood and should bounce back from last week's defeat to Mitiamo by posting a big win over the Blues.

Last time: round three - Bridgewater 34.25 (229) d Inglewood 3.4 (22).

NEWBRIDGE v MITIAMO

2.15pm, at Newbridge

The improving Maroons get the chance to test themselves against the best team in the competition.

Hardly an easy assignment, but it is a great learning opportunity for the Newbridge youngsters.

Mitiamo hasn't put a foot wrong all season and this should be win number nine in a row.

Last time: round three - Mitiamo 14.13 (97) d Newbridge 2.7 (19).

.........................................

1. Mitiamo

Record: 8-0, 295.2%

2. Bridgewater

Record: 7-1, 233.4%

3. Marong

Record: 6-2, 251.6%

4. Pyramid Hill

Record: 5-3, 202.6%

5. Bears Lagoon-

Serpentine

Record: 4-4, 94.0%

.....

6. Maiden Gully YCW

Record: 3-5, 115.8%

7. Newbridge

Record: 2-6, 50.3%

8. Calivil United

Record: 1-7, 30.2%

9. Inglewood

Record: 0-8, 12.3%

............................

Adam Bourke (34): Pyramid Hill, Marong, Bridgewater, Mitiamo

Adam Bourke (34): Pyramid Hill, Marong, Bridgewater, Mitiamo

............................

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