The majority of the pre-season predictions for the Ballarat Highlands Bowls Region Saturday Pennant premier title went in the direction of big Ballarat clubs such as Victoria and Sebastopol, among others.
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While it may turn out that way next year, country sides Linton and Mt Xavier have the chance to start their respective seasons 2-0 and sit in the top-half of the ladder after two weeks.
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The two will face-off at Linton today, both coming off impressive wins in the return to the greens last weekend.
Mt Xavier did what not many sides have done; beat BMS at BMS in the opening week, while taking home 14 points too.
Linton claimed all 16 points with a 67-48 win over Creswick, helping it to top-of-the-table.
Linton premier player Craig Grenfell said both sides come in good form.
"They had probably an upset win over BMS (last week), which is great for them, especially playing BMS at BMS, that's a really, really good win for them," he said.
"Obviously we had a good win against Creswick as well, it's going to be a good tussle."
Like any sporting competition around the world, a good start to a season is vital, especially for a team's finals hopes come the end of the season.
Grenfell understands that if Linton is to make the jump into the top four this season, a 2-0 start to its season would help the cause greatly.
"It'd be great, everyone knows how important it is to get off to a good start and if you win the early games it sets you up for later in the year," he said.
"We're in a position to win our first two, it looks promising that you could hopefully be in the mix for finals at the end of the (season)."
Mt Xavier president Paul Forrest said his side is confident of a win.
"We've got every chance to go well against them, our troops went well last week ... we all got up and we're very happy around the club ... " he said.
"Hopefully ... we can go out to Linton and have a great tussle and get over them as well, that'd be the best start we've had in nine years."
In the pre-season, Forrest said the focus for his side was to win more games before the Christmas break.
A 2-0 start would be the perfect way to do so.
Buninyong got its season off to the ideal start last weekend over Webbcona.
It now turns its attention to reigning premiers Victoria in a test for the rising side.
Victoria certainly has not taken a step back to start its premiership defence, claiming 15 points last weekend against Learmonth in a 57-49 victory.
For Buninyong, a win may not eventuate, but a competitive showing against arguably the competition's best side, as Learmonth did in week one, would do wonders for its confidence heading forward.
Ballarat and Webbcona will look to rebound from their respective week one losses when the two face off at Ballarat Bowling Club.
They each claimed one point in week one, an improved result in this area will help their respective causes.
Learmonth and Creswick will do the same following their respective competitive losses in week one.
The home side should have taken plenty from its loss to Victoria and should carry that confidence into this weekend's clash.
Sebastopol, one of the dominant side's in week one's action, hosts BMS, looking to start its season 2-0.
BMS were upset by Mt Xavier in week one, however, a win over Sebastopol would well and truly get its season back on track.
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