Lockington Bamawm United has spent three weeks on the sidelines - and the Heathcote District Football League side is itching to jump back in to the contest.
After having a bye round before the July 15 COVID-19 lockdown, coach Brodie Collins said his players were “rapt” to be back after nearly a month away from football.
“We’re keen as mustard,” Collins said.
“As a group, guys have been really good doing their running and kicking the footy outside of training - we’ve been pretty active with it.
“(The) boys are jumping out of their skin (to play).”
LBU makes its return to the field against premiership contender White Hills after a near month-long layoff.
Last time they met, the Cats brushed aside the now third-placed Demons in a 133-point massacre at White Hills.
Jarod Bacon booted six goals playing off the wing as his side ran away in the second half, slamming home 17 goals after half-time.
Collins is expecting to meet a different White Hills side to the one they faced in round eight though, especially with some of their outs in that game - playing coach Sam Kerridge and competition goal leader Jed Lamb - now back in the side.
“You have to go in with a fair bit of respect,” said Collins. "They (White Hills) haven't played for three weeks either.
“We're just going to go out and focus on our own game, (and) what's been working for us.”
Over the course of a dominant season, a mixture of evenly spread contributors and a high-pressure game has been the working formula for the Cats.
They'll look to continue that dominance with an eye to the fast-approaching finals series.
● Injured, winless and trounced by 104 points before lockdown, a break in play might be just the thing Leitchville-Gunbower needed.
The Bombers face Huntly tomorrow in their first game back, and coach Cam van Florestein said despite the heavy defeat to Mounts in their last game, his players haven't given up.
“The boys still have the spark,” van Florestein said.
“They haven't dropped their heads but they're not happy with where they are - and they're working to get better.
“We go through patches where we are really good, a quarter here and there, so it's just about consistency.
“That's the challenge to the playing group being so young.”
His side isn't without reliable operators. Ayden Walton has shown that sought-after consistency for his side, young gun Darcy Elliot continues to emerge and Nathan McLellan put together some solid footy before the lockdown.
The Bombers have a tough task against a Hawks side (6th) desperate to break into the top five but will at least come into the clash refreshed and hungry for that elusive win.