That couldn’t be more true than in Kyabram Fire Brigade’s upcoming McMahon Shield battle with Rochester, set for Northern Oval, Kyabram this Saturday.
The two sides have been duking it out for fourth place all season and are currently level on points, Rochester holding the edge on quotient.
Fire Brigade has one extra game remaining in the season, and a win here would put it in the box seat to feature in the finals, alongside Moama, Echuca South and Bamawm-Lockington United.
The Mowers will look to make it 13 straight victories when they visit Leitchville-Gunbower, while BLU will host winless Nondies-Cohuna.
Four-time champion Echuca, still an outside chance of snatching fourth, needs a win against the Blues at Tongala Recreation Reserve to keep that glimmer of hope alive.
Echuca South has the bye this week, with BLU able to snatch second from the Swans on quotient with a win.
In the Campaspe Tennis Association, the key question is which Echuca side will finish the regular season with the minor premiership.
Echuca’s 2 and 1 share the top of the table right now, having each beaten the other once in previous meetings, but one side will claim the outright advantage after the two squads clash at Echuca Tennis Club.
At the other end of the ladder, LBU is looking to break its drought and score a first win of the season at Rochester Lawn Tennis Club.
In the weekend bowls pennant, questions remain around which sides will feature in the finals as the competition enters its final three rounds.
Stanhope slipped up last weekend against Rochester, opening the door for Deniliquin to possibly snatch fourth. It currently sits outside the top four by a single point.
Deni visits Rich River this week, while Stanhope is also away to another finals smoky, Tongala.
Meanwhile, Kyabram or Echuca will establish bragging rights in a battle of the current top two.
The winner will have the lead heading into the final fortnight.
After dropping two straight, Moama gets a breather with a useful bye, while a potentially decisive clash in the relegation battle will rage at Mathoura Bowling Club, as Rochester comes to town.
Attention then turns to Sunday and GMCW, the women’s cricket competition back in action after taking the Australia Day weekend off.
The most intriguing clash appears to be between Bamawm-Lockington United and Echuca, with BLU at risk of losing its finals place should it fall to its fellow top-four member.
Nathalia will look to gain ground on whichever side loses that contest when it takes on winless Cooma.
Finally, league leader Moama will try to extend its advantage, welcoming Katamatite to Moama Recreation Reserve.
Second placed Rochester has the bye.
Forecast extreme heat remains a factor in the weekend’s matches, with earlier start times or cancellations a possibility if the mercury rises too high.
35°C