Win and you are in.
The Jets hold on to sixth place on the Cricket Shepparton Haisman Shield ladder by the slimmest of margins ahead of the competition’s final round.
Numurkah is three points adrift in seventh but the Blues are out of the equation if Northerners can roll the Bombers at Waaia on Saturday.
“It’s do-or-die for us. It all comes down to this,” Northerners coach Steve Allen said.
Northerners have occupied a spot inside the Haisman Shield top six for majority of the season, but an inconsistent second half of the campaign has left their season on a knife’s edge.
Last week Northerners received a major confidence boost with a back-against-the-wall win over Euroa.
Despite their unpredictable form during the past few months, Allen is confident that his outfit’s best can get the job done on Saturday.
“I’ve got belief in the playing group; I know they are capable, but it comes down to them having the belief in themselves,” the Northerners mentor said.
“Waaia’s one of the top teams in the comp. There’s a reason why they are still undefeated.
“But I know that if we can produce our best on Saturday then we can be very competitive. Hopefully the boys rise to the occasion and can give themselves every chance of winning.”
In the Waaia camp, playing coach Brayden Carey said his charges were looking forward to the challenge of taking on a hungry Jets line-up.
The Bombers can’t be dislodged from the top two spots on the ladder and are seeing the match as a tune-up for finals.
“It’s a good opportunity for us to play against a quality outfit,” Carey said.
“They have got multiple match-winners; Joel and Mitch Brett and Nick Breslin, there’s class players on their list and they can take the game away from you quickly.
“Depending on other results, we could potentially end their season and that’s one less dangerous team in finals. We are looking forward to the contest.”
In selection news, the Bombers welcome back Luke Quinn for Anthony Ciavarella, while Northerners are expected to head in unchanged.
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