SOLE Ballarat premiership hope Redan Football Club is bracing itself for the worst - a first semi-final clash without skipper Andrew Jones.

Jones, who was knocked out cold during the third quarter of the Ballarat Football League qualifying final against Sunbury at the weekend, has been rated a 50-50 chance of taking to the field against Darley at the Eastern Oval

on Saturday.

"We'll have to wait and see how he comes up," coach Kieran Murrihy said, speaking at a BFL press conference yesterday.

Redan, which went down to Sunbury by 28 points, may have to rely on its depth through the midfield to see it over the line.

"You never want to lose your skipper going into finals, but we've started planning for that eventuality," Murrihy said.

"Over the last half of the season we introduced a few guys through the midfield ... and Tim Swanton has been quite a good back-up."

The Lions' opponent enters this weekend's clash after scraping into the top-six, and knocking off Melton South by 16 points in the first elimination final.

Although Redan has bundled the Devils out of the finals every year since 2002, it is wary of placing to much store in past performances.

"We're keen not to focus on history, and I think it will be a really tight struggle," Murrihy said.

"We know Darley will be fairly confident, and we just have to hope our form will be good enough."

Meanwhile, second semi-finalist representatives from home club Sunbury and Melton gathered to trade barbs over their respective flag chances.

"If we don't take Sunbury, we'll take Redan next week," Bloods vice-president Mick Williams said.

"Sunbury is a good side, and all I can say is our endeavour is fantastic, the guys will have a dip, and, man on man, we should give it a fair shake."

Sunbury president Greg Allen said, although the reigning premiers had their injury woes, the Lions had resources and courage to call on.

"We haven't got the strongest side on the field, but it's not something that has decimated us. Sunbury has plenty of depth we can pull on," he said.