Round 13 pits the hosting Bulldogs against a Katamatite side which laid waste to Picola United by 152 points last weekend.
Now the Tigers stray four points behind Strathmerton and Bulldogs co-coach Tim Bramich is gearing up for what promises to be a steely game of football in all aspects.
“We are going along nicely at the moment, but we have got some big tests coming up in the next few weeks,” Bramich said.
“That starts this weekend and everyone is excited to get stuck into it. It should be a good match and we'll find out where we are at.”
While not as clear cut, the Bulldogs approach the weekend off the back of a win of their own.
Matt Ryan starred in the guts during a 29-point win against Katandra, but the victory came at some cost as 50-goal forward Tim Looby suffered an injury which could potentially rule him out of the Katamatite clash.
“Tim rolled his ankle at the weekend and has pulled up a bit sore,” Bramich said.
“We'll wait and see how he goes on Thursday night. He is keen to play, but we'll see how he pulls up because we don't want to risk doing further damage.”
Mathoura’s recent run of form will be put to the test when top four side Berrigan arrives.
In their past five games the Timbercutters have recorded four wins — including scalps of Katamatite and Strathmerton — and most recently made a mockery of Blighty in a 28-goal rout.
However, the Saints aren’t third by chance.
Statistically, Berrigan boasts the competition’s second best defence and will be out to shut down Mathoura’s main threat in Izaac Johnson (33 goals).
Deniliquin Rovers posted their second win of the campaign in round 12, but now face a mammoth task in backing it up against Tungamah.
The Bears fall outside the top four on percentage alone and looked in fine form when dealing with Katunga 18.11 (119) to 11.9 (75) on Saturday.
A rested Jerilderie eases back into the draw by welcoming 12th-placed Tocumwal.
It’s a game the Demons must put to bed should they continue on their finals trajectory, as they sit in seventh currently.
Katandra and Yarroweyah fight out a ninth versus 10th battle on the Hoppers’ back paddock, while Katunga can keep the Kats out of the eight by claiming four points away at Picola United.
Finally, the league’s only remaining winless outfits — Blighty and Rennie — face off and Waaia assumes the bye.
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