STRATHDALE-Maristians has the opportunity to stare down another potential Bendigo District Cricket Association contender when it hosts Eaglehawk in round eight on Saturday.

The top-of-the-ladder Suns last week saw off a challenge from what had been the second-placed Bendigo United, winning by five wickets.

On Saturday the Suns are back home at Bell Oval for a tussle with third-placed Eaglehawk.

The Hawks have a major inclusion in their side for the clash, with star veteran Jeremy Brown named in the first XI on Thursday night.

"It's obviously big for us getting Browny into the side. With us being reasonably inexperienced, it stiffens up the middle-order," Hawks captain Nick Farley said on Friday.

"And for me as a young captain, he's going to be really good to lean on at different times with all his experience."

Brown, who has made the odd appearance for Emu Creek in the EVCA in recent seasons, last played a first XI game with the Hawks in 2017-18 when he was their leading run-scorer with 595.

Brown returns to an Eaglehawk side that is 5-2 and coming off a 76-run win over White Hills last week.

Hawks' all-rounder Russell Stockdale continues to have a major impact with bat and ball as evident last week with his 98 and four-for a key to the Hawks' win over the Demons.

With 619 points Stockdale is the new leader this week in the Addy MVP rankings and his duel when at the crease batting or with his leg-spin against the star-studded Suns line-up shapes as a highlight of the clash.

A key for the Hawks will be preventing Suns' openers Cameron Taylor and Daniel Clohesy from getting their side away to a flyer with the bat like they did last week against Bendigo United and getting some pressure on the middle-order.

Statistically, the Hawks are the No.1 ranked bowling attack this season through Stockdale (18 wickets), Farley (11), Aaron Monro (10), Jordan Shelton (8) and co and will need to be at their best for all 45 overs to restrict the fast-scoring Suns.

Last time: Strathdale-Maristians 5-244 def Eaglehawk 90.

Since 2000: Strathdale-Maristians 23; Eaglehawk 9; Tied 1.

Tip: Strathdale-Maristians.

Opportunity knocks for Golden Square at Wade Street to make it back-to-back wins when it hosts White Hills, who have found it tough going this season.

The Bulldogs will be striving to pick up from where they left off with the ball last week when in an even team effort they had seven bowlers take a wicket as they routed Sandhurst for 103.

The Bulldogs applied the pressure with tight lines and lengths led by captain Liam Smith and Scott Trollope - who has caused plenty of headaches with the ball for White Hills in recent years - and that will be the starting point again against the Demons, who are languishing with just one win.

Still plenty of cricket to be played this season with nine rounds left, but the Demons quickly need to find some spark with bat and ball if they are to start having an impact on the competition.

Last time: White Hills 8-171 def Golden Square 152.

Since 2000: Golden Square 18; White Hills 9; Tied 1.

Tip: Golden Square.

Strathfieldsaye keep ticking the wins off, with the Jets now 5-1 and in second position on the ladder after overcoming Bendigo last week.

On their home deck at Tannery Lane deserve to go in as warm favourites against Sandhurst, which will be determined to put in a far better showing after last week's seven-wicket loss to Golden Square in which their net run-rate also took a hit.

The Dragons are a young side and will have their ups and downs, but they are still only one game outside the top four, so still right in the hunt for a finals berth approaching the halfway mark of the season.

A pair of key ins for the Jets with batsman Callum McCarty and opening bowler Jed Rodda both returning.

Last time: Strathfieldsaye 163 def Sandhurst 129.

Since 2000: Strathfieldsaye 17; Sandhurst 12.

Tip: Strathfieldsaye.

A testing assignment awaits the Power as they continue to strive for their first win of the season when they come up against Bendigo United at Strauch Reserve.

Although the Power is mired to the bottom of the ladder, the big plus from their season is the exposure they are giving to the club's junior talent as evident with four under-16 players - Judd Gilchrist, Kyen-Burrill Grinton, Archer Billings and Jack Wilson - all lining up against Kangaroo Flat last week.

Tough ask against Bendigo United that will be hungry to atone for last week's loss to Strathdale-Maristians and has captain Clayton Holmes (335 runs) tearing attacks apart at the top of the order, while it will be another tune-up for Miggy Podosky before he heads to Oman next month to play for his native Philippines.

Last time: Huntly-North Epsom 6-135 def Bendigo United 8-131.

Since 2000: Bendigo United 19; Huntly-North Epsom 6.

Tip: Bendigo United.

Could last week's win over Huntly-North Epsom just be the tonic to kickstart Kangaroo Flat's fledgling season?

On paper the Roos are a much better side than their 2-5 record suggests, but last season's runners-up have made hard work for themselves from here.

Bendigo can make it even tougher for the Roos if they can win at home to get their ledger back level at 4-4 and potentially move within a game of the top four.

Last time: Bendigo 171 def Kangaroo Flat 169.

Since 2000: Kangaroo Flat 20; Bendigo 8.

Tip: Kangaroo Flat.

STRATHDALE-Maristians claimed victory via the Duckworth Lewis system in a rain-affected BDCA Twenty20 game against Huntly-North Epsom at the QEO on Thursday night.

The Suns' score of 3-72 off 11 overs chasing the Power's 6-115 had them ahead on Duckworth Lewis when rain forced an early end to the contest.

The win improves the Suns' record to 2-0, while the Power are now 0-2.

Opening batsman Ryan Grundy was the mainstay of the Power innings, smashing a career-best 71 of their 115 runs, which included four boundaries and four sixes.

James Schischka's 2-16 off four overs were the best figures for the Suns, whose reply of 3-72 included a top-score of 30 off 23 balls from Jack Neylon before he was bowled by teenager Jack Wilson (1-16).

The Twenty20 competition continues next week.

MARONG faces a tough assignment if it's to force its way back into the Emu Valley Cricket Association top four on Saturday.

The Panthers have slipped out of the top four after being replaced by reigning premier Emu Creek last week and now come up against the second-placed United at Ewing Park.

While the Tigers will go in as favourites, they will certainly be wary of what the Panthers are capable of given when they met in round one the game ended in a 138-all tie.

The Panthers will be striving to get back to their early-season form having lost their past three games since they had sat on top of the ladder after round four.

SATURDAY'S ROUND 10 GAMES:

Axe Creek v Mandurang

United v Marong

Sedgwick v West Bendigo

California Gully v Spring Gully

Emu Creek bye

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EVCA LADDER:

1. Mandurang

Record: 6-1-1 Pts: 102.8

2. United

Record: 5-1-1 Pts: 96.1

3. Spring Gully

Record: 5-2-1 Pts: 94.2

4. Emu Creek

Record: 4-3-1 Pts: 77.8

5. Marong

Record: 3-3-1 Pts: 67.6

6. West Bendigo

Record: 3-5 Pts: 62.3

7. Sedgwick

Record: 2-5-1 Pts: 52.8

8. Axe Creek

Record: 2-5-1 Pts: 52.3

9. California Gully

Record: 1-6-1 Pts: 38.8

SATURDAY'S ROUND 10 GAMES:

Boort-Yando v Arnold

Kingower v Wedderburn

Bridgewater bye

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

ULCA LADDER:

1. Arnold

Record: 5-2 Pts: 30

2. Kingower

Record: 5-2 Pts: 30

3. Wedderburn

Record: 4-3 Pts: 24

4. Bridgewater

Record: 3-5 Pts: 18

5. Boort-Yando

Record: 1-6 Pts: 6

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