by Davyd Reid
Neerim-Neerim South and Buln Buln meeting in a top of the table clash has been quite the regular occurrence in recent seasons of Ellinbank and District football.
While there has been some movement this season as Ellinbank and Lang Lang look to put their hat in the ring, it's ultimately more of the same as the Cats and Lyrebirds headline round 12.
Buln Buln enter the contest undefeated having taken all before them this season and enter the contest on the back of some dominant recent form.
Coach Bob McCallum lauded his team's strong victory over Nilma-Darnum in round nine as their first full four-quarter effort. And they've carried that form with big wins over Lang Lang and Poowong.
The Cats also enter the contest in good form, coming off the bye to show good discipline in grinding out victory in a tight tussle with Ellinbank.
Brent Mounsey returns to the helm for the Cats this week, with the home side looking to throw down the challenge to the premiership favourites.
TRAFALGAR overcame its challenges to record victory over Nilma-Darnum last week to jump into sixth place on the ladder.
The Bloods will need to show the same grit and determination when they host fourth placed Lang Lang.
Trafalgar had hoped to build and challenge for another finals appearance at the back end of the season, but are still battling issues with availability.
While facing a significant percentage gap to the fifth placed Crows, the Bloods are just one game outside the five and not completely out of the hunt.
If they can grind out an upset over a side like the Tigers, it will go a long way towards setting up an enticing battle for the final position in the five.
They'll have to be at their best however against a Tigers outfit looking to rebound after a difficult mid-season period that saw them drop from top of the table to fourth.
Lang Lang scored a comfortable victory over Yarragon last week and will look for more of the same to keep pace with the leading pack.
LONGWARRY will look to further consolidate their position in the top five when they host Catani.
Should the result at Trafalgar go their way, the Crows will go a step further towards securing a finals appearance with a two game and percentage gap.
Standing in their way is a Blues outfit on the improve, with the likes of Thomas Keily and interim coach James Williams helping them power to victory over Nyora last week.
The Crows will enter favorite, but the Blues will resolve themselves for another competitive effort following the high of their first win last week.
NILMA-DARNUM will look to keep in touch with the top five when they travel to Nyora.
The Bombers should expect a greater challenge than first time around in the season opener, with the Saints showing patches of form in recent games.
Nilma-Darnum could reclaim sixth spot with victory and should do enough to secure the points.
YARRAGON host Poowong in a battle between eighth and ninth.
Little separates the sides, the Magpies one win behind but percentage tells a story, less than two percentage points being the gap.
Both sides will look for a confidence boosting victory as they look to help shape the ladder in the back end of the season.
ELLINBANK have a timely bye, given the physical contest with Neerim-Neerim South last week.