In a rematch of the 2016 grand final, Wickliffe-Lake Bolac will face Tatyoon with the reigning premiers getting the home ground advantage this time around.
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The Magpies sit in third position, equal on points with the Hawks providing for a classic eight-point game.
Wickliffe-Lake Bolac won the only match between the two teams so far this season by 34 points in round two.
Magpies coach Joe Otto said he is expecting a tight contest.
“It is going to be tough, Tatyoon are going really well now and it is always a tough match when we face them,” he said.
“I think it will be a pretty attacking type of game, so we will need to find some avenues to goal.
“They have a pretty strong midfield group and so do we, so it should be a good contest.”
Otto said the team will have some changes but still expects them to put in a good performance against the Hawks.
“We have got a few outs this week but we expect it to be a close game even with our changes to the team,” he said.
“The boys like a challenge, we have played some of our better football for the season against the top teams which is a good sign.
“We will not be worrying too much about them and how they play.
“I think we will probably just be more focused on ourselves, they have a few new players we have not seen either which will make it harder.”
Tatyoon have hit winning form in recent weeks and should go into the match full of confidence.
Hawks coach Adrian Pilgrim said the match should give the Hawks a fair idea of where they are at, a month out from finals.
“It is going to be a real big challenge and a good test for us,” he said.
“To an extent, I think this match will define the rest of our season.
“We know we are at the point where you cannot be looking for excuses and we know the level we need to play at.
“We just need to make sure we get ourselves up for the game and start well like last week.”
Pilgrim said the team is coming off some hard games in the past month and are excited about another challenge.
“We are coming off the back of a testing period and we came through that with some confidence,” he said.
“We know that we are going to need to get on top early in the match if we are going to compete with them on the scoreboard.
“With the ground at Tatyoon not being so big, if you get the centre clearance, you can find yourself having a shot on goal, so the midfield will be important.
“I expect it to be a bit of an arm wrestle between the two teams.
“I reckon 12 or 13 goals might be enough to get the win, so it will be about taking our opportunities and putting scoreboard pressure on from the first bounce.”
First bounce at 2.15pm.