OUYEN United and Mildura will test their skills in the last home-and-away game of the season this Saturday, fighting it out in what could be a finals preview.
The top four teams are locked in, with undefeated Wentworth in top spot, followed by Mildura, Ouyen United and South Mildura.
Saturday’s match between Mildura and Ouyen United could preview how the Kangas will stand up if they have to face the Demons in the preliminary final in a fortnight.
Mildura previously defeated Ouyen United by eight points in round 9.
Ouyen United co-coach Kyra Nathan said her team were prepared for a gritty contest against Mildura.
“We know that they are a really tough side and they have improved significantly in the last couple of years,” she said.
“We won’t take them lightly, and we know it will be a really tough match.
“Hopefully we can stay with them and put some of our processes in place and come away with a win.”
Nathan said the Kangas would have a more consistent side Saturday, as key players Esther Manley and Tsharni Burns return after a few weeks off.
“We have got a couple of players back that have been away for university and through injury, so we should have most of our team back which is great,” she said.
“We have had a pretty inconsistent year, I don’t think we have had the same team for two weeks in a row, it’ll be nice to try and get some consistency.”
Nathan said the team’s fill-ins had done well this season, but she was glad to have a mostly set team heading into finals.
“The girls that have filled in for us in the last couple of weeks have taken their opportunity and done really well,” she said.
“We are really happy, and we have had wins so that has been great.”
Nathan said Ouyen United would be able to watch how the Demons play, ready in case they meet in the finals.
“(Now) is quite a good time to play them,” she said.
“Potentially if we win the first semi, we may play them either in the prelim or, if we make the grand final and they knock over Wentworth, (we will play them there).
“(Mildura defeating Wentworth) is a real possibility I think, they have been doing really well so we will see.”
Mildura co-coach Sharon Watson said coming back after the bye to play Ouyen United was not ideal, but the team were ready for the challenge.
“We will just see how things go,” she said.
“If we are not ready then we will be in a bit of strife, but I think we are pretty ready.”
Watson agreed it was great to play the Kangas so close to finals.
“I never get ahead of myself, which I’ve said many times, but it could possibly be Ouyen, Wentworth, Ouyen (that we play next), so it is actually nice fronting up against them because the first time we played them was obviously a long time ago,” she said.
Watson said she the team were looking forward to finals.
“I think everyone is quite shocked that we are actually there now,” she said.
“I think there is a bit of a buzz going around that we are actually in them.”
Also on this week, Red Cliffs will take on Irymple at Henshilwood Reserve, South Mildura will take on Merbein at Kenny Park, and Wentworth will also take on Robinvale Euston in Dareton.
The only team able to potentially move a ladder position Saturday is Irymple, which are looking for a win to take back their fifth-place spot that was taken by Imperials, after a 51-42 loss to the side.
Imperials have the bye.
