at Waubra, Saturday, 2.30pm

Last time: Beaufort 10.15 (75) d Waubra 8.6 (54), round 9, 2017

Beaufort will make the difficult trip to Waubra on Saturday with one of its most undermanned teams of the year.

But Crows coach Rohan Brown is excited to challenge his club’s depth against one of the form teams of the Central Highlands Football League.

Brown has revealed key players Nick Sullivan, Jake Garvey, Zane Thompson and Alex Petrie will all miss, while the dangerous Jack Duke must sit out the next two games due to a suspension he received from the narrow two-point win over Hepburn in round eight.

Brown said Sullivan had a hamstring issue, while Garvey, Thompson and Petrie are all unavailable.

While there are some significant outs, the return of experienced pair Jarrod McCorkell and Ben Hayes is important. McCorkell and Hayes were both absent for the win over the Burras, which has left the side second on the ladder.

Waubra is level on points with the Crows, but sits third on the table.

Roos coach Matt James has flagged the return of defender Ben Wilson on Saturday, as well as forward Jackson Kinna, who missed the win over Dunnstown before the break with an ankle injury.

Despite beating Buninyong earlier in the campaign, James rated this game as the team’s biggest challenge so far in season 2018.

Prediction: Beaufort

Skipton v Ballan

at Skipton, Saturday, 2.30pm

Last time: Ballan 20.15 (135) d Skipton 2.1 (13), round 9, 2017

It took Ballan eight games to record its first win of the Central Highlands Football League season and the Blues get a golden opportunity to make it two-straight this weekend.

Coach Jason McNamara and his boys snuck home against Rokewood-Corindhap before the Queen’s birthday long weekend break and now prepare for a clash with lowly Skipton.

McNamara said it was important his side started the game well given its habit of trailing away if things didn’t begin well on the scoreboard.

“It is all about staying in the contest,” McNamara told The Courier.

“It is a big game for us… because if we don’t win this the year will drag out for us.”

Ballan will welcome back important onballer Darren Tanti from a hamstring injury for this weekend’s encounter.

Tanti missed the breakthrough triumph over the Grasshoppers.

After going winless in 2017, Skipton has clinched two victories this year and coach Greg Middleton is eyeing a few more before the season is out.

This Saturday is no doubt one of them, but other games against Rokewood-Corindhap, Creswick and Carngham-Linton also look within the Emus’ grasp.

Middleton said Xavier Lourey would return from a hamstring injury this weekend and assume his spot in the heart of the Skipton defence.

Prediction: Skipton

Learmonth v Newlyn

at Learmonth, Saturday, 2.30pm

Last time: Learmonth 14.7 (91) d Newlyn 7.9 (51), round 9, 2017

It has been a rather straight-forward start to the year for Newlyn, but now we get to find out if the Cats are the real deal.

The big off-season movers and shakers are top of the Central Highlands Football League ladder after eight rounds, with their only loss coming in narrow fashion against reigning premiers Hepburn.

But in reality, the serious tests are still to come.

It starts with Learmonth this weekend before clashes against current top eight sides Springbank, Bungaree, Gordon, Buninyong and Beaufort in the run to finals.

Star onballer Steve Clifton is the big inclusion for the Cats this weekend, with the former GWS Giants player having missed the side’s past two games.

Fellow midfielder Dylan McLachlan has also been picked to make his return from travel back home to the Northern Territory, while mid-season recruit Michael Bowden is poised to debut for the club. Bowden has also arrived from the NT and is named on the wing.

Learmonth failed in its first big test for some time when going down to Springbank last round, but will fancy its chances against a side it beat in 2017.

On that occasion, the Lakies won the round nine encounter by 40 points.

It is also a tough upcoming couple of months for the Learmonth boys, which will take on most of the same teams as Newlyn in the run home.

Prediction: Newlyn

Clunes v Bungaree

at Clunes, Saturday, 2.30pm

Last time: Bungaree 12.17 (89) d Clunes 6.6 (42), round 9, 2017

Clunes: The Magpies let slip another of their major chances for victory before the Queen's birthday long weekend break when they lost to Daylesford.

And the next three weeks look difficult for Clunes with games against top eight contenders before a meeting with Ballan in round 12.

Bungaree: The Demons will look to consolidate their place inside the top eight with a strong win against a lowly league rival.

Important swingman Jason Linke is unavailable for this clash as his side chases a fifth-straight success.

Prediction: Bungaree

Creswick v Buninyong

at Creswick, Saturday, 2.30pm

Last time: Buninyong 18.10 (118) d Creswick 8.2 (50), round 9, 2017

Creswick: The Wickers continue to be competitive in season 2018, but are yet to land a big scalp to boost their finals aspirations.

Here's another chance to test themselves against a league heavyweight, with victory potentially earning the side a spot inside the top eight by round's end.

Buninyong: Boom mid-season recruit Derick Micallef has been named to play in the reserves for his new club this weekend.

Defender Chris Wills and prolific forward Sam Cooper are missing this week, while key big men Jake Dunne and Liam Rigby return from time on the sidelines to rest injuries.

Prediction: Buninyong

Hepburn v Springbank

at Hepburn, Saturday, 2.30pm

Last time: Hepburn 17.12 (114) d Springbank 10.7 (67), qualifying final, 2017

Hepburn: Ace forward Izaac Grant has been named to play for the Greater Western Victoria Rebels in the TAC Cup this weekend and will miss the Burras' big clash against Springbank.

The young goal-kicker starred with seven majors in Hepburn's narrow two-point loss to Beaufort last round, leaving the side outside the top eight.

Springbank: Premiership players Simon Quinlan and Jaaron Mahar are set to return for the GJ Gardner Tigers this weekend.

Quinlan has been missing all year with a knee injury, while Mahar only played the opening round of the year against Buninyong.

Rokewood-Corindhap v Dunnstown

at Rokewood, Saturday, 2.30pm

Last time: Dunnstown 11.7 (73) d Rokewood-Corindhap 9.6 (60), round 9, 2017

Rokewood-Corindhap: The Grasshoppers are set to welcome in key backman Leigh Finlayson, who injured a finger in the opening round of the year.

He is one of three inclusions for the Rokewood-Corindhap side that is chasing a second win of the year.

Dunnstown: The ultra classy Harry McKimmie has been named to return to the Towners' team that lost to Waubra before the break.

Dunnstown coach Justin Abrams said McKimmie had recovered from a lower leg issue and would take his place against the Grasshoppers.

Prediction: Dunnstown

Carngham-Linton v Gordon

at Snake Valley, Saturday, 2.30pm

Last time: Gordon 22.19 (151) d Carngham-Linton 9.5 (59), round 9, 2017

Carngham-Linton: Veteran Jake Pring is back in the side for Carngham-Linton's first home game at Snake Valley this year.

Saints coach Matt Beaston said Pring missed last round's heavy loss to Bungaree with an ankle problem.

Gordon: Eagles coach Ron Watt anticipates the experienced Luke Gunnell will miss two or three games with an ankle injury he sustained in the round eight win over Creswick.

But the side is set to get back key figures Angus Watts and Ethan Crackel for this fixture after both were unavailable for the win over the Wickers.

Prediction: Gordon