The Pumas and Hawks sit first and second respectively on the ladder and the result of their round 16 clashes will be the form they take into their guaranteed appearances in this year's finals series.

Moyston/Willaura has won all but one match this season, its loss was early on and to nearest rival Tatyoon.

This week the Pumas travel to Glenthompson to take on a much improved Glenthompson/Dunkeld outfit.

Last time the two teams met the Pumas restricted the Rams to just one goal for four quarters of football.

Coach Trent Fiscalini said his team goes into the match well placed with few worries.

"We are really starting to look beyond this week, to having the week off and coming back to play either Tatyoon or Hawkesdale/Macarthur," he said.

"As long as we go out onto the field and play with the competitive nature to win, the competitive nature that has seen us win 11 of the last 12 matches, we should go alright."

The Pumas will be buoyed by the return of Daniel Guinane and shouldn't find playing away a problem.

"We have shown throughout the season we can travel and still play well, we have played under dry and wet conditions," Fiscalini said.

"You can't really fault us at this stage, we've been able to show the rest of the competition we are a good side and whatever happens on the day will happen."

Although finals are out of the question, SM&W Rovers will go into tomorrow's clash against Tatyoon with the psychological edge.

Rovers were able to hand the Hawks a defeat when the two teams met back in round nine and form doesn't necessarily indicate a result when the Mininera rivals take to the park.

Tatyoon coach, Jarrod Blandford said his players need to take a finals like mentality into the match.

"Our matches have been hard fought against Rovers for as many years as I can remember," he said.

"We have been improving, we're showing more consistency across the board, so hopefully we can come away with the points to lead into the first final."

Hawks will be favoured after last week's impressive performance against Penshurst, while the Bulldogs are looking to bounce back after last week's loss to Lismore/Derrinallum their first after seven wins in a row.

It will be a case of too little too late if, as expected, Wickliffe/Lake Bolac gets the four points against the Ararat Eagles.

The Magpies have lost four of their past five matches and last weekend's loss to Caramut saw them surrender fifth place and any hope of playing finals football in 2014.

Last year's premiers have struggled to nail down consistent form with an unexpected loss to Glenthompson/Dunkeld a fortnight ago signalling the team would be lucky to see September action.

For Ararat, Saturday's clash shapes as one last chance for it to taste victory this season.

It has been another tough season for the Eagles, grabbing only one win against other competition struggler Woorndoo/Mortlake.

Despite having more than 2100 points kicked against it over the course of the season, Ararat amassed a season high score of 74 in last weekend’s loss to Glenthompson/Dunkeld.

There will be no respite for embattled Great Western as it goes into the last round of a long and difficult season facing third placed Hawkesdale/Macarthur.

The Lions have battled injury woes and inconsistent form all year and after a promising month of football crashed back to earth last week suffering a massive loss at the hands of Moyston/Willaura.

Great Western go into the match without captain Brett Dowie who suffered a knee injury early in the match against the Pumas. Nathan Ringin, Bobby Garley and Danny Grellet will all be given until the last minute to prove their fitness.

The Lions will welcome the inclusion of full back Danny Hoare as well as wingman Leroy O’Brien, defender Mark Bradshaw and youngster Nathan Ross into the side.

Coach Nick Thomas said that he would be after nothing short of a four quarter effort from all 21 players who represent the club tomorrow.

“Obviously the season hasn’t gone to plan for us but that doesn’t mean we will be giving up Saturday,” he said.

“Too often we have left it to the same eight or so players to do all the work, I expect everyone to put their hand up.

“We have to go in with a positive mindset. It would be great to finish off with a win.”

In other matches to round out the home and away season, fifth place won’t be decided until the final siren in the match between Lismore/ Derrinallum and Caramut.

Both teams are locked on 36 points each, with a higher percentage and home ground advantage the only thing the Demons take into the clash. 

Woorndoo/Mortlake has one last chance to achieve four points when it takes on Penshurst.