at Buninyong, Saturday, 2.30pm

Last time: Buninyong 13.15 (93) d Daylesford 9.9 (63), round 2, 2016

Buninyong coach Jarrod Morgan says he will play in the clash against Daylesford, despite the imminent arrival of his third child.

Morgan’s wife is due to give birth on Saturday, and while the onballer plans on running out with his side, admits he will leave the ground should she go into labour.

“I’ll play and just have a phone on the bench. We will just go with three on the bench if need be,” Morgan said.

Buninyong charged into the Central Highlands Football League top four following last weekend’s big win over Newlyn, its eighth-straight success.

While they are fourth, the Bombers only have a percentage advantage on Gordon (fifth) and Bungaree (sixth) heading into the last three rounds of the season.

Three changes to the side that defeated the Cats have been named. Lachlan Baker has been sidelined with a three-match suspension for striking in that game, Tyler Dittloff is out with soreness and Daniel Pelchen is unavailable.

Daylesford slipped to ninth following last Sunday’s loss to Gordon, which was its third-straight defeat.

Zac Tisdale is an important inclusion this weekend, but Toby Hughes, who missed against the Eagles due to concussion, has other commitments and is unavailable for this game.

After the Bombers, the Bulldogs meet Ballan and Dunnstown.

Prediction: Buninyong

Dunnstown v Learmonth

at Dunnstown, Saturday, 2.30pm

Last time: Learmonth 12.11 (83) d Dunnstown 4.6 (30), round 16, 2016

All of a sudden, Dunnstown is eyeing a surprise finals appearance.

The Towners started the season with a run of eight-straight defeats, but have charged up the Central Highlands Football League ladder with five wins and a bye in recent weeks.

This unbeaten streak sees Dunnstown in 10th spot on the table ahead of its clash with Learmonth this weekend.

The team is eight points behind the eighth-placed Lakies with further games against Newlyn (12th) and Daylesford (ninth) closing out the home and away rounds.

Dunnstown coach Justin Abrams appears keen to keep his players from looking too far ahead.

“I think everyone is aware of our situation, but we haven’t made it a focus at all,” he said.

“We just need to focus on winning games.”

Abrams said the team would be boosted this Saturday by the inclusion of tall backman Angus Thompson, who has been sidelined with a finger injury.

The defensive division has also been bolstered for Learmonth, which welcomes back key position players Ed Sinnott and Shane Rogan from overseas travel.

Learmonth beat Ballan by one goal last weekend to climb back into the eight.

The Lakies have a tough run to finals that includes games against Beaufort and Hepburn.

Prediction: Learmonth

Gordon v Bungaree

at Gordon, Saturday, 2.30pm

Last time: Bungaree 8.7 (115) d Gordon 14.10 (94), round 1, 2016

Gordon will trot out close to its best line-up this weekend in another vital clash for its top four chances.

The Eagles are set to welcome back key figures Luke Gunnell, Jye Cousins and Brad Hallam to the side that triumphed over Daylesford on Sunday.

Gordon coach Gary Learmonth said Gunnell and Cousins sat out the contest due to concussion, while Hallam was unavailable for the fixture.

Gordon climbed to fifth on the Central Highlands Football League ladder – just percentage outside the top four – following the victory over Daylesford, which was its eighth-straight success.

Tough encounters against the Demons, Springbank and Buninyong await the side in the run home.

Learmonth said his charges would need to win all three matches to clinch a double chance in finals.

Bungaree suffered its first loss since round four at the hands of Springbank last weekend and slipped from fourth to sixth in the process.

Demons coach Heath Pyke said defender Lachlan Prendergast suffered an ankle injury in that clash and would miss against Gordon, but will be pleased to get back important midfielder Matthew Sheridan, who sat out against the Tigers due to illness.

After this clash, Bungaree has battles against Buninyong and Ballan before finals.

Prediction: Gordon

Ballan v Newlyn

at Ballan, Saturday, 2.30pm

Last time: Ballan 13.15 (93) d Newlyn 4.6 (30), round 8, 2016

Ballan: The Blues welcome back key defender Jake Wilkinson for the home encounter against Newlyn.

Wilkinson was unavailable for last weekend's narrow six-point loss to Learmonth, which has left the team 11th on the ladder.

Newlyn: Defender Daniel Hammond is set to play in this weekend's clash despite suffering concussion in last Saturday's heavy defeat at the hands of Buninyong.

Hammond was hit by Buninyong's Lachlan Baker, who copped a three-week suspension at the tribunal during the week.

Prediction: Ballan

Hepburn v Clunes

at Hepburn, Saturday, 2.30pm

Last time: Hepburn 32.13 (205) d Clunes 7.3 (45), round 1, 2016

Hepburn: Lee Cox is the big inclusion to a Hepburn side looking to register a 12th-straight win.

Cox was rested for last weekend's big victory over Carngham-Linton, but will return to the side before the round 16 bye.

Clunes: The Magpies have another tough encounter to plan for this weekend, with a trip to meet the red-hot Hepburn on its home deck.

Clunes, which was thrashed by Beaufort last Saturday, then has a battle with Waubra before a final-round clash with the lowly Rokewood-Corindhap.

Prediction: Hepburn

Rokewood-Corindhap v Creswick

at Rokewood, Saturday, 2.30pm

Last time: Creswick 9.10 (64) d Rokewood-Corindhap 5.3 (33), round 10, 2016

Rokewood-Corindhap: Caius Barrenger was the success story of last weekend's win over Skipton and will front up for his second game back from a long lay-off this Saturday.

Barrenger, who suffered an ACL injury during the pre-season, kicked six goals to help the Grasshoppers to their second victory of the campaign.

Creswick: Here's a good chance for the Wickers to land a long-awaited third win of the year.

Creswick has not won a match since the round six triumph over Daylesford, but will fancy its chances against the Grasshoppers and then the battling Skipton the following weekend.

Prediction: Creswick

Springbank v Skipton

at Wallace, Saturday, 2.30pm

Last time: Springbank 24.14 (158) d Skipton 5.5 (35), round 13, 2016

Springbank: The Tigers had plenty of key players back for the important win over rivals Bungaree last Saturday, but will be missing a few of them for this clash.

Among those will be classy forward Billy Driscoll, who won't make the trip back from Sydney this weekend, and onballer Joel Maher, who is likely to sit out the rest of the home and away rounds due to a hamtring injury.

Skipton: Getting two teams on the park remains the focus for Emus coach Greg Middleton, who continues to battle through his first year in charge.

Skipton will be massively outclassed this weekend, but finish the season against lesser opponents Creswick and Carngham-Linton.

Prediction: Springbank

Waubra v Carngham-Linton

at Waubra, Saturday, 2.30pm

Last time: Waubra 12.16 (88) d Carngham-Linton 3.6 (24), round 1, 2016

Waubra: The Roos will rest star forward Tim Boyle this weekend, with another clash against a league minnow.

While Boyle misses, the team gets back important players Malcom Niblett and Nathan Patrikeos, who have all spent numerous weeks out of the senior line-up.

Carngham-Linton: While victory looks tough this weekend, the Saints will have their sights set on the last two rounds of the season.

Carngham-Linton, which was thumped by Hepburn last outing, has winnable clashes against Rokewood-Corindhap and Skipton in the run home.

Prediction: Waubra