WILL it be third time lucky for Buninyong or will Hepburn's dominance of the Bombers continue?
One of these scenarios will play out when the two teams meet in a mouth-watering preliminary final at Learmonth tomorrow.
Buninyong has fallen short at this hurdle during the past two years, and has not beaten the Burras since way back in 2003.
The Bombers came close in round nine this year, but again it was Hepburn that prevailed by 12 points in one of the season's most memorable encounters.
Buninyong has enjoyed the week off to recover after its qualifying final win over Bungaree, while the Burras bounced back from their shock loss to Daylesford with an easy victory over reigning premiers Waubra last weekend.
Bombers coach Joe Gilbert is as desperate as ever for a spot in the grand final, and believes his charges are in the right frame of mind heading into tomorrow's clash.
"Internally and from what I see and how we all feel, the hunger is definitely there, but it's got to be shown this Saturday at 2.35pm," Gilbert said. "We wanted the week off to get freshened up and get the soreness out so we're in a good spot really in that sense."
Hepburn coach Shane Robertson said Buninyong was the best side he had witnessed throughout the course of the season, and didn't believe his team's past record was relative this weekend.
Jarrod Pollard, Kade Sexton and Matt Layfield were inclusions into the Burras' side at selection last night, with a final line-up likely to hinge on tomorrow's conditions.
The Bombers, meanwhile, recalled Allister Hill into a squad of 23 players.
PREDICTION: Hepburn by two goals.
