The Pumas will face the Magpies tomorrow at Moyston on the back of an 84-point victory, which made the equal second-placed Southern Eagles look second rate.

"I didn't expect it to be as convincing as what it was," Moyston/Willaura coach Trent Fiscalini said.

"I think conditions were pretty average but our boys came to play, were first in for the footy and our foot skills were a standout compared to Hawkesdale.

"Even though it is this far into the season, I still can't get a proper gauge on things especially with the way Penshurst are beating some good teams, same with SM&W Rovers and we had beaten them pretty convincingly.

"I don't think there is that much of a gap as the scores are suggesting, it is whoever turns up on the day to play."

The Pumas will start unbackable favourites in their final two matches of the home and away season against Great Western and Glenthompson/Dunkeld, and with a two game lead at the top of the ladder, victory in tomorrow's contest will all but seal the minor premiership.

Fiscalini said his players aren't getting too far ahead of themselves however, and will be treating the next month of football with caution.

"For the next four games to the end of the season they are all going to be danger games," he said.

"We just need to keep on track with the way we are going about things and the result should take care of itself.

"We have definitely improved from where we were at in the opening rounds of the year. We have ironed out a lot of creases that we needed to and I'd say we are nearly playing our best footy.

"We still have to keep going out there and working on coming away with the four points though, we need to look at the bigger picture."

Wickliffe/Lake Bolac dropped its opening round match to the Pumas back in April, but the Magpies are a much improved outfit and will be backing themselves in to cause an upset here.

The fleet footed Bailey Veale has stamped himself as a genuine gun in the Pies' line-up since breaking through for his first match five weeks ago.

The 16-year-old has been named in the top performers on four occasions, including two best on ground accolades.

Throw in Chris Hilet who had a major impact last weekend in his return from a month long injury and the ever consistent Michael Otto, Brad Keilar and Charlie Archer and Wickliffe/Lake Bolac looks an imposing sight.

Fiscalini said the Magpies have plenty of class players but he will be backing his charges to get the job done, led by arguably the most in-form tall in the Mininera, Josh Bywater.

"Josh just continually gives us first use around the ground and he is so clean below his knees for a big fella," he said.

"His work rate is also by far the best in the competition I reckon."

The Pumas will be without their number one onballer Lynden Brewis (unavailable), but will regain Andy Leithhead who missed last week due to work commitments.

Fiscalini said captain Matt Peel would still be a couple of weeks away from lining up following a shoulder injury.

The form of SM&W Rovers has been one of the talking points of the season so far and the Bulldogs will be looking to claim another top five contender when they take on Caramut.

Sam O'Brien has been Rovers' shining light in the forward line during this purple patch, kicking bags of three goals or more in the past five matches, while back in round one when the side last faced the Swans he top scored with five majors.

On that day it was Caramut which ground out a 16-point victory, but the Bulldogs are a much improved side from the one that started the season.

Ben Nankervis, Alexander McCarthy and Jonathon Box have all been firing in recent weeks, while John Forbes and Sam Liston have recaptured their form and must continue to find the ball if SM&W Rovers is to make it six from six.

Tatyoon will have no problems maintaining second position on the ladder when it travels to Alexandra Oval to face the Ararat Eagles.

The Hawks will surely have one eye on their clash with the Pumas next weekend and will be looking for a big win against the Eagles as a springboard into that blockbuster match.

Peter Butler is one player that is starting to find his feet in the Hawks' line-up and produced a best on ground performance last weekend.

Butler had plenty of support from Damian Cameron, who has three matches under his belt after missing a chunk of the season, and talented tall Arthur Armstrong continues to shine.

The Eagles are once again licking their wounds off the back of another big loss, but there were still positive signs in the Great Western clash.

Mark Coole and Shaun North two players that were singled out by coach Nathan Wemyss as being in solid form heading into the match didn't disappoint, with both seeing plenty of action.

Wemyss himself was also in good touch, but the trio need more from the men around them and it all starts tomorrow against the Hawks.

Great Western will look to make it two wins in a row when the Lions take on Glenthompson/Dunkeld tomorrow.

Unfortunately for the Lions, they will go into the game without star utility BJ Burton and half-back Danny Grellet, both of whom were instrumental in the win over the Eagles last week.

Nick Thomas will be looking to the likes of Tom McCord, Bobby Garley, veteran Tim Shalders and Nathan Ringin to fill the void left by these two players.

The final matches of the round see Penshurst and Hawkesdale/Macarthur go head-to-head, while Lismore/Derrinallum will travel to face Woorndoo/Mortlake

Umpire Appointments

Ararat v Tatyoon (at Alex Oval): Chris Butler and Paul Spriggs

Moy/Will v Wick/LB (at Moy): Scott Kiltscher and Craig Gersch

W/Mortlake v Lis/Derri (at Woorn): David Reynolds and Tony Reynolds