The Mountain Men have been competitive, but haven’t been able to come up trumps since their high-scoring win against Blackheath-Dimboola in round six.

All-rounder Josh Mahoney said the team was looking forward to playing its first two-dayer at home for the season.

“We haven’t had much cricket at Laharum this year, and we’ve only been playing one dayers,” he said. 

This week opening bowler Daniel Mibus returns, but the side will be without influential batsman Ben Peucker and Damien Bunworth is again in doubt with injury. 

Mahoney said removing Colts skipper Brad Millar early could be the difference between the two evenly-matched teams.

“They’re a bit like us, they’ve got a lot of guys who contribute here and there,” he said.

“Brad Millar is their key – he seems to be the one making runs for them at the moment.”

Millar, with back-to-back half centuries, will undoubtedly be pivotal to Colts’ cause.

At Coughlin Park it’s do-or-die for Horsham Saints against second-placed Rup-Minyip.

The Saints slipped out of the top four after their loss to Homers last round, and now need wins against the Blue Panthers and Blackheath-Dimboola to be a chance of playing finals.

A win for the Blue Panthers will make certain of a top-two finish.

Noradjuha-Toolondo will come up against ladder leaders Homers at Sunnyside with an in-form Jarred Combe.

Combe is averaging 55 with the bat and less than eight with the ball in his three matches this season, and will be a key player if the Bullants are to challenge the league leaders.

Chris Hopper is fresh off a century for the Pigeons, who will be hopeful off-spinner Simon Hopper and Mitul Vyas have recovered from injury.

Jung Tigers have the chance to shake up the top four if they can defeat Blackheath-Dimboola at City Oval.