THE fight for ladder positions is still furious as the Horsham District Football Netball League season draws to a close.
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Reigning premier Laharum has locked up top spot, and can finish the season undefeated if it beats Edenhope-Apsley and Natimuk United in the final two rounds.
Below the Mountain Men, the other four finals-bound teams are jockeying for a top-three finish.
Kalkee and Swifts are in the box seat, occupying second and third on the ladder.
The equation is simple for both teams.
Win both of their final two matches, and they are guaranteed to finish in the top three.
Kalkee looks likely to seal second place with games against Noradjuha-Quantong and Rupanyup, both outside the top five.
Swifts will be tested by Harrow-Balmoral but should win against Pimpinio. Harrow-Balmoral, fourth on the ladder, is the hardest to predict.
The Roos started hot before hitting a mid-season form slump.
If they can recapture their early-season form, they could easily win both of their remaining matches and displace Swifts in third place.
If their struggles continue, they could drop games to both Swifts and Edenhope-Apsley, finishing fifth and taking losing form into the finals.
The Saints themselves have a tough match against Laharum at the weekend, and their round 18 clash with Harrow-Balmoral could be a preview of the elimination final.
They remain a mathematical chance to finish third if they win both games and Swifts lose at least one of their last two.
Noradjuha-Quantong, Natimuk United and Taylors Lake have similar records this year, and the Bombers’ meeting with the Lakers in the final round will be intriguing.