COMPETITION continues to hot up for a spot in the North Gippsland football top five as the season reaches the half-way mark.
The race is wide open after mixed results for the top sides in round nine, which saw bottom-placed Cowwarr tumble Gormandale, reigning premier Churchill halt Woodside's winning streak and Rosedale move into the five with a 44-point defeat of Stratford.
Heyfield's comprehensive win over Traralgon-Tyers United bolstered its percentage to 150.59 and moved it into top spot on the ladder ahead of Woodside.
Boisdale-Briagolong and Churchill are snapping at their heels, with the four sides locked together on six wins each.
Rosedale bounced back from consecutive losses to stay in contention along with TTU, while Gormandale and Sale City's chances of a finals berth are quickly slipping from their grasp.
BOISDALE-Briagolong coach Andrew Gieschen knows how important tomorrow's home game against Cowwarr is to his side's hopes of securing a top three finish.
"We have to keep winning to ensure that we get the double chance,'' he said.
"Cowwarr will be a tough game, we're not expecting it to be an easy clash. Teams have seen each week that if you're not ready to go week to week that sides will punish you.
"We can't complain with how we are travelling, we're going along quite well and have had a number return from injury. We still have the Forsyth brothers, Matt and Lee, to return, but won't be rushing them back.
"We want to peak at the right time of year, and get guys back from injury as we are peaking.''
Cowwarr stood tall last week against Gormandale, claiming its second win in three matches.
The young Saints continue to impress and will be tested this week against the high-flying Bombers.
STRATFORD will host the red-hot Churchill, who inflicted Woodside's second defeat of the season, by less than a kick.
In their present form, the Cougars should be too strong for the Swans.
LADDER leader Heyfield will return home to host Rosedale.
Both sides came away with the points on the weekend after convincing wins.
The Kangaroos' season continues to gain momentum, while the Blues' year has been one of mixed fortunes.
Rosedale has impressed in past weeks, dominating in a number of quarters before breaking through for its second win of the month.
The Blues have pushed Woodside and Churchill in past weeks, but have only claimed the points on one occasion against a fellow top five side, Boisdale-Briagolong, in the opening round.
A win over a fellow final aspirant would bolster Rosedale's morale.
A strong four-quarter effort will be required by the Blues to topple the more-fancied Kangaroos.
EARLY season bolter Sale City has been made hard work of it in past weeks.
It looked set to continue last week against Boisdale-Briagolong, until the Bulldogs emerged after the main break to outscore the Bombers in the second half, but fell 11 points short.
Round 10 sees the Bulldogs host Glengarry, who also began the season promisingly.
It is going to be a long road back for the Magpies, but coach Matt Adams has reminded his side "that they are only two wins outside the five''.
After two early wins, Glengarry has come up against stiffer opposition in the last month as
list changes and injuries have played havoc to last year's preliminary finalist.
"We have had 20 guys out injured, half of those are senior players. Josh King has been out for five weeks and we have missed his presence on the ball,'' Adams said.
"Changes to the list and injuries can be blamed for out drop in form, but we have been playing bad footy. We have shown the last couple of weeks against Churchill and Boisdale that we can match it with the top sides when we get things right.''
Adams said there were many areas the Magpies needed to work on.
"Our skills have dropped off, we're turning the ball over and our pressure has been lacking.
"We have lacked options in front of goals, Rob Cahill and Trevor May have been in great form for us and have stepped up in past weeks and kicked a few.
"But we need to turn it around this week, I'm not sure how we are going to do that.''
Adams isn't paying any attention to the ladder at the moment, instead focusing on improvement and the win tomorrow.
"To get a win would boost the boys' confidence, especially amongst the young blokes who are lacking belief in themselves,'' he said.
GORMANDALE will host an inconsistent TTU, which will be an opportunity to realise where the team really sits.
The two sides fought out a classic three-point thriller last season, and in their current form the stage is set for another tight contest.
WOODSIDE has the bye.
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