at Eureka Stadium, Saturday, 2.15pm

LAST TIME: 2016 elimination final - Redan 12.7 (79) d North Ballarat City 10.12 (72)

NORTH BALLARAT CITY (4th)

REDAN (5th)

The Ballarat Football League season is only new with just two full rounds having been played.

In most cases a loss at this early stage is not going to severely hurt a campaign.

At the same time though, there is nothing liking getting wins on the board early to provide momentum.

So ask North Ballarat City coach Jordyn Burke and his Redan counterpart Brendan Peace whether they would prefer to go to the inter-league break with a 2-1 or 1-2 record and the answer is a no- brainer.

Each is desperate is bring up a second win in their clash at Eureka Stadium on Saturday, which should guarantee a high octane contest.

It shapes as a battle between North’s attacking mindset and Redan’s blanket defensive pressure.

Peace, who has again put his return after a year-long lay-off with a knee reconstruction on hold, said developing a defensive mindset had been a focus for the Lions.

It worked against Lake Wendouree, even though Redan did not get the points, and took East Point away from the game it wanted to play.

North Ballarat City is loaded in attack with Will Young and Derrick Micallef, who showed their potency against Melton South first-up.

While Ballarat nullified them, it is hard to imagine both being quiet again, especially if Ryan Luke, Simon McCartin, Joe Symons and Daniel Jones get on the go.

Burke said it was important to go the upcoming break with your nose in front.

He is looking forward to going into this match a little fresher.

He said North had a resilient group which just wanted to get on with the job at hand coming off a loss.

Redan has regained forward Nick Willox after missing with a corked leg and called up recruit Tom Morrish from Ouyen United, while North Ballarat City loses Sam Bromley-Lynch (knee) for a few weeks and Daniel Kilpatrick (tooth) from an extended squad.

BALLARAT v MELTON

at Alfredton, Saturday, 2.15pm

LAST TIME: round 9, 2016 - Melton 13.9 (87) d Ballarat 10.12 (72)

BALLARAT (4th): the Swans will be on a high after beating North Ballarat City, but now that they have set the bar this high the pressure is on to maintain it. 

Ballarat runs into an out-of-form Melton and has a big opportunity to go to the inter-league break unbeaten.

The Swans will be without young ruckman Bailey Van De Heuvel (unavailable), which will put more pressure on the likes of Marcus Powling and Tom Conroy, and the promoted Brendan Smith.

MELTON (11th): a crucial game for the Bloods, which is feeling the pain of a winless run. Coach Brad Murphy has made his players well aware that finals are likely to be out of reach if this stretches to 0-4.

So it is a must-win for Melton. Missing skipper Jake Gleeson (concussion) does not make it any easier, but the Bloods do get back vice-captain Ryan Walker and Dyson Stevens (Northern Blues) from the VFL, as well as ruckman Mark Maric. 

Murphy said Melton had a good record at Alfredton and was making the trip with confidence.

PREDICTION: Ballarat

SEBASTOPOL v MELTON SOUTH

at Marty Busch Reserve, Saturday, 6.15pm

LAST TIME: round 14, 2016 - Sebastopol 14.10 (94) d Melton South 2.8 (20)

SEBASTOPOL (9th): gun forward Michael Powell makes a return after an interrupted pre-season owing to nose surgery and will provide a target for a team featuring a wealth of youth. 

Unfortunately the Burra is missing leading lights Brett Goodes (calf) and Jack McNab (broken leg) for the first game on its new home surface.

Sebastopol defeated the Panthers twice last year, but South is a much different proposition this time. 

MELTON SOUTH (1st): the Panthers venture away from their home ground for the first time, and the bigger ground will offer a new challenge.

There is debate as to whether Melton South will be better in more open spaces, particularly with its forward structure focused on Brendan Fevola, or be found wanting for raw pace.

This game against a young combination taking small steps at a time is probably not going to answer this query.

The Panthers have left out former Sydney and Richmond ruckman Tom Derickx, naming him as an emergency.

PREDICTION: Melton South

SUNBURY v DARLEY

at Clarke Oval, Saturday, 2.15pm

LAST TIME: elimination final, 2016: Sunbury 12.11 (83) d Darley 7.11 (53)

SUNBURY (8th): the Lions have lost young recruit Mitch Trimboli, who is expected to miss up to six weeks after having surgery to repair torn finger ligaments. 

Sunbury has arguably had the toughest draw of anyone to kick off, but at the same time while encouraged coach Ben Jordan says the Lions have too often played in patches.

They will need much more consistency against a rampaging Darley.

DARLEY (3rd): Chris Graham will miss through suspension, but other than that the Devils remain in good shape and there is no shortage of depth.

He has been replaced by Dane Grenfell, who will add to goalkicking potency.

Coach Heath Scotland is expecting Sunbury to throw plenty at them, but with competition high for places in the team Darley is not about to let its winning run slip.

And with so many new faces Darley is only going to get better with each run.

PREDICTION: Darley

EAST POINT v LAKE WENDOUREE

at Eastern Oval, Saturday, 2.15pm

LAST TIME: round 13, 2016 - East Point 10.14 (74) d Lake Wendouree 9.13 (67)

EAST POINT (10th): another tough match-up for the Kangaroos, emphasised by a common form-line through Redan. One similarity they have with Lakers is a failure to make the most of scoring opportunities. 

Their performance against Redan was better than the scoreboard indicated, but that was partly the price for not being able to put the finishing touches on their work.

Lakers are not a big team, but the absence of ruckman Rylan Rattley (ankle) will hurt in an area East might otherwise have had an edge – especially with first-year big man Arthur Armstrong (knee) out for the visitors.

East Point has made three changes with North Ballarat Roosters-listed Jake McQueen, Cameron Jackson and Andrew Stevenson inclusions.

LAKE WENDOUREE (2nd): Lakers have got the job done with two wins from two outings, but coach Tim Malone says they still have a fair way to go in what is deliberately a slow build.

He has been pleased with the introduction of some new blood, including young ruckman Harry Monk, who debuted against Sebastopol.

While Nick Peters is okay after a heavy knock, Luke Bucknall has aggravated an ankle which might need a few weeks to get over.

With Eamonn McCuskey and Ben Hayes replaced Bucknall and Armstrong.

PREDICTION: Lake Wendouree