WITH the logjam that exists from third through to 10th on the Ovens and King ladder, tomorrow's match between Greta and Tarrawingee could prove crucial for both teams' finals chances.
While both currently sit inside the top eight, Bright and Bonnie Doon, placed ninth and 10th, are poised to strike should the teams above them falter.
Tarrawingee currently occupies fifth spot the highest it has been since round one but coach Finton Eames has done the maths and knows how important it is to keep winning.
"Out of the teams in the top eight, our percentage is the worst," Eames said.
"Lose this and we could drop straight back to eighth.
"With Bright and Bonnie Doon winning games this one is crucial for us."
Greta coach Dan McLaughlin was just as adamant about the value of a win.
"This is a really big game for us, along with any game against a club in that (third to 10th) bracket," McLaughlin said.
"We've come a long way from where we were earlier in the season, and Tarrawingee is travelling as well as anyone at the moment, so we're really keen to test ourselves against them."
Since starting the season 1-3, the Bulldogs have won their past five, but they haven't done it easy, managing a lengthy injury list most weeks.
The selection door will be revolving again for tomorrow's match, with defenders Tom Arnold and Craig Kerlin the latest pair to be facing lengthy stints on the sidelines.
"It's really disappointing for those two," Eames said.
"Tom had just come back from some hamstring issues, and he's done a PCL (posterior cruciate ligament), so that's a 6-10 week injury.
"Kerls was the same it was his second week back from a broken hand and he dislocated his kneecap, so that could be a six-week injury too."
When the two sides met at Greta last year, the Blues managed just six behinds for the match in one of the wettest games seen.
But coming off a league record score of 352 points, with full forward Brad Bell booting 23 goals, Eames knows the Blues will have a bit more potency this time around.
"I'm keeping an eye on the weather, because it was like playing in Lake Mokoan last year," he said.
"Obviously Belly is in terrific form, so we'll have to combat him.
"Joel O'Keeffe, Ash Sheldrick and Kent Braden are all guys who could potentially play on him.
"But in the end I think if we concentrate on our game and get that right the rest will take care of itself."
By - SCOTT ANDERSON.
WET AND WILD: While rain is forecast for tomorrow, neither coach wants to see a repeat of the deluge that swamped last year's clash between the Blues and the Bulldogs at Greta. PHOTO: Scott Anderson
Last Modified on 22/06/2012 14:43