by Nicholas Duck
The final round of the West Gippsland home and away season is here and while the top six is locked in, positioning and momentum going into finals is all on the line.
Garfield vs Warragul Industrials
Warragul Industrials will look to come into finals on a five-game winning streak when they take on Garfield.
The Dusties will most likely be coming into their elimination final as the sixth placed side but make no mistake, there are plenty of teams who would be keen to avoid them in week one.
Four wins in a row will do that, but when two of those have come against serious sides like Phillip Island and Cora Lynn? Suddenly finishing third doesn't look too tempting.
They can't get complacent, however, particularly as they still have one more match before the real games begin.
Garfield are trying to finish their season with a flourish, and there's nothing they'd like more than to steal one more win before heading into the off-season.
The Stars have generally improved their output this year, particularly against the teams around them, but have struggled to contain the teams vying for the top six.
It makes this one all the more important for them - coach Paul Carbis has flagged that the final few weeks of the season would be treated as a series of mini-finals, making this almost their grand final.
They'll take some confidence out of their earlier clash with the Dusties where they were more than competitive for three quarters before falling away late.
They might have nothing to play for, but that also means they have nothing to lose.
On paper Warragul Industrials should win this comfortably, but don't count these Stars out.
Nar Nar Goon vs Bunyip
Bunyip's long, torrid season finally comes to an end this week when they face Nar Nar Goon.
The Bulldogs have been forced to endure the ramifications of a tumultuous off-season, and boy have they felt it.
They've failed to win a game thus far, with just two of their losses being under 45 points. Ten of them have been by more than 100 points.
On the positive side they've been able to expose plenty of young players to senior football, which club officials hope will hold them in good stead for years to come, but in the short term it's been a slog.
And unfortunately for them their chances of registering a win in the final round aren't great.
Nar Nar Goon are gearing up for a finals series, having won their past four games.
And if other results fall their way, a big win could see them making some serious moves up the ladder.
This might just be the Goon putting the Bulldogs' year out of its misery.
Other games
It's first vs second when Inverloch-Kongwak faces off with Phillip Island.
The Sea Eagles are assured of top spot and will be sitting pretty, but for the Bulldogs a loss here could see them lose their top two spot and a double chance in finals with it.
Two losses in their past three games has made them vulnerable, making this a vital game in the context of the premiership race.
Tooradin-Dalmore will be the team eyeing off that second spot when they look to take care of Kilcunda Bass away from home.
The Seagulls, despite their diminished form this season compared to last, would love nothing more than a double chance, and should they win here they give themselves the best chance of that.
The Panthers have gone through another middling year but could end their year on a high note with an upset here.
Cora Lynn are looking to bounce back as they take on Koo wee rup.
After being brought undone in a fiery encounter with Warragul Industrials last round, it's all about building their momentum heading into finals.
They knocked off Phillip Island just a few weeks ago so we know their best is good enough, now they just need to get it done against a languishing Demons side.
Finally, Korumburra Bena and Dalyston will search for some late glory when they play one another.
It's been another tough year for the Giants, while the Magpies will wonder what might have been after a strong opening few rounds has given way to disappointment.
Dalyston will enter as favourites in a game between two teams wanting to build a platform for next season.