by Davyd Reid
A top of the table clash between Neerim-Neerim South and Longwarry headlines round 10 of Ellinbank District football.
The Cats have been the team to beat, taking all before them this season, with this contest set to show how much of a challenge the Crows can present.
Longwarry have also been in impressive form, only dropping points in a close encounter with a Buln Buln rediscovering form to climb to fourth.
Home ground advantage and form should tip the contest in the Cats favour, but only slightly.
TRAFALGAR and Yarragon battle it out for the Waterloo Cup in what shapes as the most intriguing contest between the two rivals for some time.
After missing the top five last season, both sides have been improving and recruited well.
The Bloods look set to return to the top five, having recorded seven wins with a healthy percentage, while the Panthers sit sixth as they also look to challenge for a finals appearance.
Trafalgar may look the stronger prospect on paper and will enter with favouritism, but these contests between the rivals are notoriously close.
BUNYIP and Poowong face off in search of their first victory of the season.
It has been a torrid season for both sides, the Magpies losing some talent over the off-season, no greater than multiple league medal winner Jack Hazendonk.
Bunyip's woes have continued since entering from the West Gippsland competition and will be eyeing off a first victory in their return to the Ellinbank league.
Home ground advantage will tip favouritism towards the Bulldogs.
ELLINBANK will look to make it a step closer the top five when they host Nyora.
The Eagles have been on the rebound after dropping all five games to rivals in the top five.
Ellinbank could leapfrog Yarragon into sixth should results go their way, by virtue of their healthy percentage.
It's that percentage that keeps them in the mix for the second half of the season, being greater than fifth-placed Lang Lang and similar to fourth-placed Buln Buln.
Nyora have been on the improve, having recorded three wins, but this result will be far too important for Ellinbank.
BULN BULN and Lang Lang will look to consolidate their position in the top five in fixtures against lower ranked opponents.
The Lyrebirds have built into the season following a slow start to sit fourth and in the mix.
They host a Catani side that have improved, the Blues having three wins and a percentage of 90 to show they have been in games.
Lang Lang travel to take on Nilma-Darnum who have had mixed form, although the Tigers are coming off a scare against Bunyip.
Both the Lyrebirds and Tigers will look for strong victories to further press the gap to the other teams below trying to push for the top five.