by Nicholas Duck
Drouin and Warragul hit the road this week as they head off to face different challenges.
The Gulls will aim to end a 26-year drought, while the Hawks are out to cause some chaos for the finals contenders in the run home.
Maffra vs Warragul
Opportunity awaits Warragul as they travel away from home to play the team just above them on the table in Maffra.
It's been a tough period for the Gulls, who have won just one of their past 10 games as injury has, for lack of a better word, crippled their year.
Their last two weeks have been especially rough in sizeable defeats to Moe and Traralgon respectively, two teams who have intentions of being there come the pointy end of the year.
But they can put all that behind them should they play their cards right here, given their opponents have also won just three games this year (plus a draw).
The Eagles have embarked on their own list rejuvenation, having blooded a number of young and inexperienced players this season.
As with all young sides at times they've been highly competitive but not so much at others.
This is all of course similar to the story leading to these teams' match earlier this season where Maffra got the the best of Warragul by 15 points.
That wasn't one for the replays admittedly, but the Eagles were able to hold their nerve as the Gulls struggled to connect up forward.
Neither of these sides will be making a run for finals, but with just a few weeks left it's a great chance to build a platform for next season.
There are a number of changes for Warragul, as ruckman Nick Stevenson is out along with Tom Stern, Liam Serong, Alby Phillips and Patrick Ireland, while star midfielder Nick Mulqueen makes a return with Todd Gowans, Will Cole, Lucas Monacella and Jordan Murphy.
The Gulls will be up against history given they haven't won at Maffra since 1997, but with the teams as close together as they are there's been no better time.
Sale vs Drouin
Drouin's hunt for a top five scalp hits the road as they head to 'The Nest' to take on Sale.
While there were some hopes that Drouin's drought breaking win over Bairnsdale last month may be a circuit breaker, it's been tough going since then.
A disappointing performance in the Western Derby was followed by a meteoric comeback falling just short against Morwell until last week saw them suffer their second worst loss of the year against Wonthaggi.
The Hawks' final four weeks are going to be tough, with three of their opponents on the run home all in the top five.
While it's tough to see them finishing anywhere other than last, they can cause plenty of havoc in the run home, starting here.
Sale, while in fifth position, are holding onto it by percentage alone.
Morwell are breathing down their necks, meaning the Magpies can't afford a slip-up, especially in a match like this that the bookies would have them winning easily.
But pressure can do a funny thing to teams sometimes, and the Hawks would love an upset or two as they finish year one under coach Brent Clinnick.
Key forward Hugo Birks returns to the Drouin line-up, as does young Brodie Atkins, while Jack Fraser and Seb Amoroso are outs.
Sale has beaten Drouin in 10 of their past 11 games and will come in confident, but given the Hawks are the fifth best scoring team in the league (better than Sale, believe it or not) they'll be aware that their ladder position isn't a true indication of their threat level.
Other games
On the other side of the battle for fifth, Morwell will look to cause a major boil over when they play Leongatha.
A two-game winning streak will have the Tigers feeling good, but teams rarely leave Parrot Park with that same sense of optimism.
With their season on the line, and possibly Leongatha's spot on top of the ladder, both teams will leave nothing out there.
There's a double chance at stake when Traralgon faces off with Moe.
The Maroons still lag behind the top three by a game but will fondly remember they were able to knock off the Lions in their last meeting.
Watch out for a fiery encounter that may be remembered as a significant one come the season's end.
Finally, Bairnsdale makes one of the longest journeys in country footy when they travel to Wonthaggi.
The Redlegs have won just one of their last 11 games. In that same time, the Power haven't tasted defeat once.
The long drive home might feel that much longer after this one.