The season will be on the line for four Horsham District league clubs, as the first week of finals kicks off at the weekend.
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In a cutthroat finals set-up, Natimuk United, Noradjuha-Quantong, Swifts and Jeparit-Rainbow will all be fighting to stay alive, with elimination awaiting each losing side.
In the battle between third and sixth, Natimuk United take on Jeparit-Rainbow in Stawell on Saturday.
Natimuk United coach Sam Anson said finals football was like the beginning of a brand new season.
"It's a whole new game I reckon. You've got the season, then you've got finals. Everyone has to step up," Anson said.
"It's more competitive, bigger crowds, the excitement in general all takes a step up. It's a great time of the year."
Natimuk United will carry confidence into their contest against Jeparit-Rainbow, having won both of their previous match-ups this season.
Anson said he expected a close game, with heightened intensity.
"They are a great side so I think it will be a corker of a game," he said.
While there is speculation around the availability of Jeparit-Rainbow key forward Ben Warren - who has booted 40 goals in his five games this season - Anson said he wanted to face the Storm at their best.
"We'd rather play them at their best," Anson said. "We've got a few back from injury too."
Jeparit-Rainbow midfielder Shane Maslin said he was anticipating a close contest.
"They will be tough, no doubt - but the second time we played them was really even," he said.
"They're a really young, quick, fit side. We're not as fast but a bit more contested around the ball. I'm expecting a tight contest."
Maslin said a lot will hinge on which midfield can get on top.
With the league's two leading goal scorers at either end - Natimuk United's Jaydon Stiles and Jeparit-Rainbow's Peter Weir - both sides will be looking to give their key targets the best opportunity to kick a bag.
On Sunday, Swifts and Noradjuha-Quantong will battle at Kalkee.
Swifts enter finals in shaky form, having gone 3-4 since their round 10 bye, including a loss to Rupanyup in the final round of the season.
Co-coach Daniel Parkin said the club were still confident in their ability to match it against the Bombers.
"We've done all the hard work to get there," he said.
"Obviously losing the past couple of weeks is a little bit of a downer, but we've still done enough throughout the season to be here.
"In the comp we all know there's one standout team, but apart from that it just comes back to who turns up on the day."
The Baggies will be without co-coach and 2017 Dellar medalist Scott Carey for the entire finals series, after Carey had surgery on his injured ankle on Wednesday.
Parking said the rest of the side would have to lift in Carey's absence.
"He's been our centre for the last six years, and been a leader on and off the ground," Parkin said.
"So we won't be able to replace him, but hopefully overall we can just lift that little bit."
Interleague star Ryan Folkes is also under an injury cloud with a hamstring injury that has kept him sidelined for the two rounds.
Parkin said Folkes was touch-and-go, having to prove his fitness at training on Thursday night.
Noradjuha-Quantong meanwhile will enter the match with close to a full-strength side, with key duo Nathan Byrne and Shane Oakley playing the last two rounds of the season.
Bombers coach Gareth Hose said there was an upbeat atmosphere as the club prepares to play its first senior football final since 2011.
"We're really excited to be playing finals, that's the number one thing," he said.
"It's obviously been a long time ... so the playing group is really excited about the opportunity."
After winning just one of their first four games of the season, Noradjuha-Quantong won nine of their next 12, proving their finals credentials with back-to-back victories against Jeparit-Rainbow and Natimuk United.
"Our form in the back half of the year has been really good," Hose said.
"It's not just been the last few weeks, it's actually been from the last time we played Swifts (in round 13).
"We've been on a bit of a run so ... we're confident that if we play our best football for long enough, we could win the match on Sunday."
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