Last year the Lions dramatically dropped from top spot to fifth position following its final round loss to Golden Point.

With three rounds remaining, the make-up of the top four is again delicately poised and Darley is once again thoroughly in the mix.

However, captain-coach Heath Pritchard says last year’s disappointment has not entered the minds of the playing group this season but the importance of every match will be at the forefront as it looks to chase down 208 runs against the Roosters on Saturday.

“There’s nothing you can do about last year, we haven’t even spoken about last year to be honest,” Pritchard said.

“What happened happened, you can sit there and dwell on it but it’s not going to change anything.

“The one thing it does teach us is that we have to keep winning to make sure we make the finals.

“The top five spots are tight, things happen in the last few rounds of the season...if we’re going to play finals we need to chase down scores of 207, we need to be able to do that - Saturday’s a good test for us.”

North Ballarat declared at nine down with 207 runs on the board last week in the hope of securing a Darley scalp late in the afternoon.

But the Lions’ openers survived and will resume at 0-7. Pritchard said the total was definitely attainable, but it would require a disciplined batting display.

The Darley skipper was adamant that if the side batted out its overs it would easily chase down the total, therefore a “boring” yet effective approach would be taken into Saturday.

“It’s very gettable, the wicket was good and the outfield is quick. A very gettable score, if we bat well we win the game.

“For them to have to declare...when they were in a more commanding position than that, I’m more than happy with the 200.

“We’ve got to keep winning. Whoever wants to make the finals has to keep winning games of cricket and that’s where it’s at.

“The objective will be to bat time and work hard in partnerships, not lose wickets in multiples and as boring as it sounds, if boring cricket is going to get us the result we need we’re more than happy to do it.

“Pretty basic cricket – if we bat 80 overs we win the game, simple as that.”