at Maddingley Park,  Saturday, 2.15pm

LAST MET: Darley 13.15 (93) d Bacchus Marsh 10.14 (74)    

BACCHUS MARSH (1st) – DARLEY (4th):

Darley has already beaten Ballarat Football League reigning premier Bacchus Marsh once this year.

And coach Heath Scotland is confident the Devils can do it again at Maddingley Park on Saturday.

‘We’re ready to go. We got them in round one and we can do it again.”

Darley caught the Cobras off guard at the start of the season and Scotland feels that the Devils are back in the same sort of form.

There will be no blind-siding Bacchus Marsh this time though, with the Cobras potentially eyeing off Darley as their biggest threat in striving for back-to-back flags.

If a match-up which rarely fails to deliver fireworks is not enough, two of the BFL’s biggest names Jarrah Maksymow and Brian Graham return as potential match-winners.

Maksymow is back for the Cobras after missing the past four rounds – the first three as a result of breaking team rules and then being unavailable last week.

He one of the competition’s most dynamic forwards and despite the interruption to his season will be handful for Darley.

Graham returns for Darley after making his VFL debut with Essendon, which has a bye. He has been an instant hit in the BFL and will give Bacchus Marsh its share of headaches.

Unfortunately for the Devils, Graham’s brother Chris has been suspended for two matches and leaves a big hole in the Darley make-up.

In other changes, Geelong VFL-listed Leigh Spiteri is an inclusion for Darley and goalkicking small forward Ryley Stuhldreier is back to play alongside Brenton Payne and Maksymow in a potent looking Bacchus Marsh attack.

Darley has initially been unable to find spots for ruckman Abe Cameron, who was a late withdrawal last round, and tough defender Jay Pearson back from suspension – although Scotland has not completely ruled either out with an eye on the weather. Cameron faces a fitness test.

PREDICTION: Cobras

BACCHUS MARSH

In: J. Maksymow, R. Stuhldreier

Out: J. Hehir,  D. Bishop

DARLEY

In: B. Graham, L. Spiteri

Out: C. Cullen, C. Graham

​BALLARAT v REDAN

at Alfredton, Saturday, 2.15pm

LAST MET: round 4 - Redan 17.18 (120) d Ballarat 11.4 (70)

BALLARAT (10th): it is not getting easier for the Swans, who after a bright start to the season have struggled and lost their past eight outings. A few injuries have not helped and Brayden Rodd (knee) is the latest to be sidelined as he faces minor surgery. Their leading goalkicker Nick O'Farrell (illness) will also miss against Ballarat's former City Oval co-tenant. Coach Shane Hutchinson said all the Swans could do was stick at it and hopefully get another win.

REDAN (4th): the Lions could find themselves in third spot if Darley comes up short against the Cobras. They are looking rock solid and still have a wealth of experience and top-end talent to return, with champion ruckman Orren Stephenson among the first back after not playing since round nine owing to a back-related hamstring injury. Tom Lamb is available again after illness and VFL-listed Kennan Waterbury is another key addition. Coach Brendan Peace is feeling so good that after the win over North Ballarat City he said he would not want to be an opposition team facing Redan. Now there's an ominous warning from the usually conservative Peace.

PREDICTION: Lions

​BALLARAT

In: M. Brehaut

Out: B. Rodd

REDAN

In: O. Stephenson, K. Waterbury, T. Lamb

Out: S. Carr, X. Curran, J. Baker

NORTH BALLARAT CITY v MELTON SOUTH

at Mars Stadium, Sunday, 2.15pm

LAST MET: North City 21.14 (140) d Melton South 14.20 (104)  

NORTH BALLARAT CITY (9th): being a must-win for each side, this carries finals-like stakes. A loss could mean the end of the line for City. Coach Jordyn Burke is confident a home ground advantage will play into its hands, with North at its best when able spread  and make the most of the open spaces. City's smart ball use caught out the Panthers at the start of the season and with some added leg speed through the likes of Lachie Simpson will again be looking to expose the visitors in this area. Harrison Loader is also back after being unavailable.

MELTON SOUTH (7th): this is not do-or-die, but it is close with East Point (6th) guaranteed the points with a bye and the Panthers with inferior percentage. Nick Kommer back from suspension and key forward Jonathon Kent returning from injury are huge inclusions. Joint coach Sean Triplett was pleased with the effort in the loss to Bacchus Marsh and believes with some improvement South can get the job done.

PREDICTION: City

NORTH BALLARAT CITY

In: L. Simpson, H. Loader

Out: B. Simpson, J. Curran

MELTON SOUTH

In: J. Kent, A. Clarke, N. Kommer

Out: R. Holzer, W. Dao, J. Bell

MELTON v SUNBURY

at MacPherson Park, Saturday, 2.15pm

LAST MET: round 1 - Sunbury 8.12 (60) d Melton 3.4 (22)              

MELTON (8th): this has long been a big rivalry and the pressure is going to be right on, with the Bloods desperate to end a three-match losing streak. Defeat will not end its final hopes, but with a diminishing percentage it will it extremely tough. As coach Brad Murphy says, win all four remaining games and they play finals. Win three and they are still a chance. Melton does not want to leave it to chance. The Bloods have lost Kurt Baker to suspension. He was offered a two-match set penalty, but took it the tribunal and was handed a three-game ban. Jake Gleeson (shoulder) looks like missing in what has been a frustrating year for him. On the plus side though, ruckman Mark Maric plays his first senior game since Anzac Day after getting over a hand injury.

SUNBURY (5th): the Lions lose Nathan Wood (hand), Reece Wood and big man Jayden Eales, but other than that they look relatively stable. Roger Allen is back after suspension.There was a sense of relief getting back into winning form against Ballarat and with a finals sport all but certain what coach Ben Jordan wants now is to build some momentum. "If we make the finals, we don't want to be making up numbers." Brady Mundy and Jacob Bygate make their senior debuts.

PREDICTION: Lions

MELTON 

In: C. Armstrong, L. Martin, M. Maric, J. Grech, M. Beck

Out: K. Baker,  R. Davis,  J. Gleeson, B. McIntyre, B. Newman

SUNBURY

In: J. Bygate, R. Allen, B. Mundy 

Out: J. Eales, N. Wood, R. Wood

SEBASTOPOL v LAKE WENDOUREE

at Marty Busch Reserve, Park, Saturday, 2.15pm

LAST MET: round 2 - Lakers 17.18 (120) d Burra 4.12 (36)

SEBASTOPOL (11th): the Burra is back after a bye and could hardly run into a tougher assignment. It was never going to be an easy season despite being on a new a brand new surface. Coach Shane Snibson introduced youth and extra pace, but at no stage has he been able to field a full strength combination around them and the dilemma continues.

LAKE WENDOUREE (2nd): Nathan Pring will make his return after a long-term hamstring injury. He withdrew from the selected side last round after doubt crept into his mind, but coach Tim Malone is positive there will be no setbacks this time. With Jack Elkington (broken leg) out of the season, Pring's presence will be vital in the finals and needs to find match fitness. Lakers also welcome back Tom Littore after missing a year after a knee reconstruction. He gets the call-up after two reserves games. Hugh Herben will make his first senior appearance for the season to fill a support ruck role. Key defender Ben Hayes will miss to serve a one-match suspension. It is possible Lakers might find themselves back on top this week.

PREDICTION: Lakers

SEBASTOPOL

In: J. Grills, C. Snowden

Out: B. Stevens, C. Dummett

LAKE WENDOUREE

In: H. Herben, T. Littore, E. McCuskey, N. Pring

Out: H. Monk, B. Hayes, C. McKay, K. Raven