The Magpies go into the match in third spot, one of four teams on 12 points with Hawkesdale-Macarthur sitting one win further back in seventh.

The home team is two wins off top spot but will fancy their chances of getting the win at home in the round six clash.

Wickliffe-Lake Bolac coach Joe Otto said it was an important match to win.

“It is pretty tight at the moment, just with percentage separating a group of teams, you can throw a blanket over nearly half the teams,” he said.

“These early wins will be really important, they are a strong team as well, so you have to take the chances when you get them and hope you get the win.”

The Magpies have had an up and down start to the season, starting with a loss to Glenthompson-Dunkeld but have bounced back with three wins, including an 80-point victory against Caramut in round five to take momentum into the match on Saturday.

Otto said the team will not be underestimating its midtable opponents.

“I think they are going to be a really strong team as it gets closer to finals,” he said.

“We are going there knowing we will have to be at our best to get the points and that is the plan.

“We just want to focus on our own game and hope to get the points and move on to the next game.”

The team will welcome back a handful of players for the match including Michael Otto who will play his second game of the season on Saturday.

Otto said they have also been focusing on some specific areas, with the hope it helps them get the points on Saturday.

“In the first few weeks, we lost games with some poor kicking in front of goal,” he said.

“But we were a bit better last week, we are not always making the most of our chances in the forward 50 but it is improving.”

“We just want to come out and play good footy on the weekend and hopefully it is good enough against Hawkesdale-Macarthur.”

The visitors will be full of confidence going into the match, courtesy of a percentage-boosting 143-point win against Ararat Eagles on Saturday.

The Magpies will go into the match as favourites but as evidenced by some results already this season, if either team is off its game, then there is an opportunity for the other team to get the points.

It can get windy at Lake Bolac, so it will be who adjusts to the conditions quickest that is likely to grab the win and move up the ladder.

The game starts at 2.15pm.