That is the only way either side can qualify for the Allan Matheson Shield finals series, as they find themselves sitting in fifth and sixth on the ladder respectively, even on 105 points.
While they will be focused on getting the upper hand at the Shepparton Park, both teams will also have one eye glued to the action at Tatura-Hill Top, with a Bulldogs loss to Stanhope the golden ticket into the top four.
Parkers coach Paul Nichols understands the situation that faces his team and said it was determined to put forward its best bowls after a disappointing performance against Euroa last week.
“The tactics are play the best we can, try and beat East Shepparton and then you never know what can happen,” Nichols said.
“We are very disappointed about what happened last Saturday against Euroa, we probably underestimated them a bit and they all bowled very well, so we are very keen to make amends with a strong performance this week.”
The Eagles are also ruing a major opportunity lost, falling to Tatura-Hill Top in a 14-92 to 4-84 thriller on their home green last week.
This came after Brent Reiner’s squad made the statement of the season in upsetting league pacesetter Shepparton Golf a fortnight ago.
Arguably the competition’s form team since the Christmas break, Nichols said he was expecting an incredibly tough battle with the East squad.
“They are going to be very hard to beat, even at home with our greens running nice, we are going to have to be at our absolute best to come away with a win,” he said.
“They are in the exact same position as us, if they win and Tat win, they miss out as well, so I’m expecting them to be very much up for the contest.”
While the temptation will be to look ahead towards other results and play out potential scenarios in their head, he said his team would be completely locked into its own game and what it can control.
“We are completely focused on us and our game, Stanhope can beat some good teams, like they beat us in the first game of the season, so there is always a chance the result could go our way,” he said.
“But we need to take care of business on our end to be able to move into fourth, so that is all we will be concentrated on.”
