at Eastern Oval, Saturday, 2.15pm

LAST TIME THEY MET: Bacchus Marsh 18.11 (119) d East Point 10.9 (69), round 6, 2015

THE equation for both sides is simple – win and qualify for finals.

In what could prove to be one of the most telling Ballarat Football League matches this season, East Point and Bacchus Marsh will square off in the battle for a finals spot.

Although the loser of the clash is certainly not written off for season 2015, an early ticket to the finals can reap rewards once the home and away season is over.

The situation is straightforward: both sides are on seven wins with three matches remaining in the season, one game clear of seventh-placed Sunbury.

Both have the luxury of the bye next week before the Cobras enter two near certainties against Ballarat and Sebastopol, while East Point has somewhat of a tougher draw against Darley and Melton South.

So what does that mean?

With a danger of over-complicating it or gazing too hard into the crystal ball, it is safer just to stick with Saturday’s crucial encounter.

Cobras coach Cam Richardson and Roos chief Glenn Wilkins have not laid out the finals equations to their players – they simply don’t need to.

“I’ve just told them to do the homework themselves, they know how important it is,” Wilkins said.

Richardson has taken a similar approach.

“Before last week’s win over Sunbury, I had to remind the boys were still in a good place to make finals, which can be easy to forget after three big losses,” he said.

“Now they know the full situation and are really hungry for it.”

For the Cobras, star players Ben Peters, Logan Blundell and Steve Shaw are among the key inclusions to provide a massive boost for the visitors.

Adam Richardson will miss through suspension.

East Point it is set to try its hand with North Ballarat Roosters-listed player Jesse Murphy.

Murphy is yet to play a senior game this year due to injury, but showed promise in the reserves last week. Big man Jordan Staley is also free from the Roosters and could be a weapon down forward.

PREDICTION: East Point, only because it is at home.

DARLEY (3rd) v MELTON SOUTH (9th)

at Darley Park, Saturday, 2.15pm

LAST TIME THEY MET: Darley 24.11 (155) d Melton South 11.12 (78), round 8, 2015

DARLEY: Coach Jarrod Edwards says his side should still finish in the top three - as long as it plays to its ability.

The Devils' performance against Lake Wendouree last week was arguably the worst of their season, meaning a turnaround in form this week is crucial.

With a relatively easy run home (Melton South, Sebastopol, East Point and Redan), a top three finish is Darley's to lose.

And Edwards knows it, with just five percentage points separating his side and fourth-placed Lake Wendouree.

"We've just got to keep winning if we want to finish top three, it's in our hands," he said.

"I don't think percentage will be the difference in the end, not if we play like we should."

Edwards has named himself as an emergency.

MELTON SOUTH: The spirits are high at Melton South after coming off a rare win but for coach Mark Pedersen, there is the realisation that a win is verging on impossible this week.

Coming against a Darley side that is fighting for the coveted third spot, the Panthers will be up against the odds to remain competitive this week.

The inclusions of Shaun White and Billy Sullivan arguably proved the difference last week and will be of massive assistance for this clash.

"If the boys can get the most out of themselves, that's what we are hoping for this week," he said.

"I honestly don't think we would've won last week without Shaun in the side so having him back in the side is helping a lot."

No changes have been made to last week's winning side.

PREDICTION: Darley comfortably.

LAKE WENDOUREE (4th) v BALLARAT (10th)

at Wendouree Reserve, Saturday, 2.15pm

LAST TIME THEY MET: Lake Wendouree 12.11 (83) d Ballarat 9.4 (58), round 1, 2015

LAKE WENDOUREE: Star players Matthew Tuminello and Steve Clifton will be out of action this week as the Lakers field a slightly depleted side against Ballarat.

Tuminello underwent surgery on a broken nose during the week and could be out of action until finals, while Clifton has succumbed to a lingering knee injury and could possibly be out for two weeks.

Lake Wendouree coach Gavin Webb feels his side must win every won of its remaining three matches (Ballarat, Redan and North Ballarat City) if it is to finished in the treasured third position.

For now, however, the focus is 100 per cent on the Swans.

"We're not a side that can afford to not be at 100 per cent for games like this," he said.

"We know we have to win every game from here on in."

BALLARAT: Luke Brennan is again doubtful with knee soreness that caused him to miss last week's clash, but it is not all bad news for the Swans.

Liam Youl comes back into the side, while Mitch Martin will provide some outside dash.

Prior to last week's heavy loss to East Point, the Swans had shown some solid form in a tough stretch that sees them play the top five sides on the ladder in consecutive weeks.

They have not won since round 10, but if they are to produce similar efforts to those against the likes of Darley and North Ballarat City, they should be more than competitive.

PREDICTION: Lake Wendouree but not in an utter domination.

SEBASTOPOL (11th) v MELTON (8th)

at Marty Busch Reserve, Saturday, 2.15pm

LAST TIME THEY MET: Melton 10.11 (71) d Sebastopol 7.6 (48), round 2, 2105

SEBASTOPOL: Tyler O'Sullivan-Kirchner returns to the Sebastopol and will likely be thrust forward to provide a big attacking target.

Top player Rowan Marshall has also again been given the green light to play from North Ballarat Roosters and will play his second Burras game in as many weeks.

Coach Shane Snibson kept his troops off the soggy Marty Busch Reserve surface for training on Thursday night, instead taking them out to the Federation University gym.

"I still can't question the effort of the guys, the commitment is still there," Snibson said.

Mitchell Jolly and Brock Wilson come into the side, while Jacob Eyers, Guy Coleman and Dayne Furness are on the way out.

MELTON: It has been a rough year for the Bloods, but now they get an invaluable chance to claim back-to-back victories.

Potentially buoyed by the news coach Brad Murphy has now chosen to remain at the helm for at least another year, Melton will go in strong favourites to defeat the lowly Burras.

However, Murphy is more than wary, especially given his side clenched victory from the jaws of defeat in the corresponding fixture last year.

In that match, Melton snuck home by just four points with a goal in the dying minutes.

"Look we can't just think we're going to win, they actually have some really top end players," Murphy said.

"I'm expecting a lot from our guys."

PREDICTION: Melton to continue Sebastopol's misery.

SUNBURY (7th) v NORTH BALLARAT CITY (2nd)

at Clarke Oval, Saturday, 2.15pm

LAST TIME THEY MET: North Ballarat City 19.12 (126) d Sunbury 12.8 (80), round 8, 2015

SUNBURY: Coach Rick Horwood knows his side missed a great chance to put their foot in the finals door last week and now concedes it faces an uphill battle.

And coming up against the reigning premiers does not make the task any easier.

The Lions currently sit one win out of the top six but is still more than a chance of making the finals.

However, unless it knocks of North City this week, there is every chance the BFL's longest running finals streak could come to an end.

"We've got a nothing to lose attitude, that's what we need to have," Horwood said.

"There's no greater challenge than the reigning premiers."

Jesse Flannery will miss with an ankle injury and Nathan Wood is unavailable.

NORTH BALLARAT CITY: When North City last met Sunbury, Derick Micallef proved the difference with countless possessions and nine goals.

However, the star forward is still weeks away from returning to the field with a bad hamstring injury, meaning it will be up to the likes of Shaun Lyle and company to shoulder the workload.

Sam Hooper has also earned the call up for his North Ballarat Roosters debut.

Hooper has played nine senior games with North this year.

Youngsters Ben Hurley and Matthew Coon come into the team.

With a top two finish still very much in need of protecting, expect North City to come out firing in this encounter.

They are only one game behind Redan (which will get the four points with a bye this week) and just one win ahead of third-placed Darley.

PREDICTION: North to claim a victory on the road.