The Lakers' two-point win ensures they stay in touch with the MECU Ballarat Football League leaders, despite having lost only two games for the season.

They remain fourth, equal on points to Redan, who had a free pass this week with a bye round.

The Associated Plasters Lakers' four remaining home-and-away matches include battles with top-two teams Sunbury and Ballarat.

Lake Wendouree playing-coach Mathew Battistello said a narrow win against Darley was far from a get-out-of jail for the Lakers' finals plans.

"They were coming off a bye and have been in really good form so we knew it was going to be tough," Battistello said.

All 21 Lakers had to carry their roles well, he said, to snatch the victory.

Battistello and Darley coach Gary Learmonth likened the match to a final for its intensity and in the weight of the result.

Learmonth said his Devils, ranked sixth, had to produce strong performances against higher-ranked teams to prove worthy of finals.

The Devils have four big games ahead, starting with an undefeated Sunbury at home then East Point and unpredictable danger teams Melton and Melton South.

A revamped Devils' outfit has improved dramatically since the start of the season, highlighted by the fast-running, attacking game they served to the Lakers on Saturday.

With Sam Newton, Sam Hitchings and Gavin Miller to come back into the side, they should have added bite by finals.

Ballarat has reinforced second spot on the ladder, as has East Point in fifth, with dominant wins on Saturday.

The Swans made light work of North Ballarat City with an 80-point win, after a wake-up call from Bacchus Marsh last week.

East Point, on equal points with Darley, kept an edge on the Devils with a percentage boosting 86-point win against the Marsh.

The Roos have Redan next week while Darley hosts Sunbury in a round that could, potentially shake up the top-six.