Rats know full well a win is needed to ensure any hope of a place in the finals, adding another dimension to what is already a much hyped clash.

With fifth spot on the ladder and a finals' place at stake the Rats can't afford to let slip the form that has seen them defeat Stawell on two previous occasions this season.

Joint coach David Hosking said the team can't be relying on Minyip/Murtoa to do all the work for them, with the result from its clash with Dimboola also pivotal to whether Ararat plays finals.

"Our players had the opportunity to play finals outright, just on merit with a win against Dimboola a couple of weeks ago," he said.

"They didn't, and we're now in a position where we have to get the right result and hope that others go our way.

"If we don't do our bit it doesn't matter what happens elsewhere, we need to concentrate on what we can control.

"We need to concentrate on getting the win, by being able to beat Stawell at Stawell."

Ararat kept its finals' hopes alive by thrashing Nhill by 125 points in a some times fiery affair last Saturday.

Goal kickers Beau Cosson and Daniel Mendes featured largely up forward in the win and will need to be on fire again if Ararat is to have as big an impact on the scoreboard against Stawell, as it did against Nhill.

Ararat and Stawell have met on two previous occasions this season. In round two the Rats' fitness was key to them steam rolling the Warriors by 50-points.

In round nine Ararat dominated the Warriors on a rain soaked Alexandra Oval.

On the second occasion it was the ability of the Rats' midfielders to win the ball out of the centre and get it into the forwards quickly putting Warriors' defenders under pressure that helped them to the win.

Hosking said a lot has changed since the two teams first met and he doesn't expect the previous results to have any bearing on the game.

"I think in the earlier times we were playing pretty well and we were better prepared," he said.

"We know they have improved significantly since the first round and you can see that from the results.

"For us it is going to be about discipline, doing the right things, the things we have practised and talked about to the best of our ability.

"If we don't do that, then anything can happen. We want every player to do their job, every player to play their part."

Hosking said Ararat is likely to get a couple of players back from injury and some reserves' players including Will Bell and Zac Louder could be considered for selection.

"Stawell is a bit like us, they are a young side, learning all the time and getting better," he said.

"It is possibly our last game of the year, it is definitely Stawell's, so they'll be going out there to do the best they can."