by Rob Popplestone
It's always hard to gauge a preliminary final when a higher ranked side coming off a loss meet a lower ranked team bringing in winning form.
But that's exactly what Mid Gippsland Football Netball League fans will see at Yinnar on Saturday.
Preliminary final: Tarwin v Yinnar
Time: Saturday at 2.20pm
Venue: Yinnar
Tarwin finished the season on top with just two losses for the year. However, after last week's third defeat at the hands of Newborough, all of a sudden the Sharks look beatable to a side that only jumped into the league's top six for the first time in the last round of the year.
Yinnar are at full strength, they are playing good football and they have momentum, all of which will be tested by Tarwin.
Yinnar coach Daniel Taylor said Saturday was another great opportunity against Tarwin, with the winner going on to "the big dance".
"Tarwin obviously didn't get the result they were after on the weekend, but they're a good side and they finished on top of the ladder for a reason," Taylor said. "They'll be ready and looking to bounce back, but I'm confident we'll be up for the fight and ready to go again. It should be a cracker."
When the two sides met in round one, it was Tarwin in a close one. At the time, Taylor said his team's intensity was off early and this saw them on the back foot for most of the day.
"To be fair, I thought we were lucky to still be in the game at three-quarter time as Tarwin were clearly the better side," Taylor said. "We rolled the dice in the last and fought it out, but came up short unfortunately. Proud of the fight back but disappointed with how we started."
After the season opener, Tarwin coach Troy Hemming said he was pleased to get the season off to a winning start.
"Great start by our full squad," Hemming said. "Very impressed with the new players coming into the club and also our local veterans turning back the clock. Seniors showed great fight for four quarters."
"We trained our game plan all pre-season, and the boys stuck to it," he added. "Yinnar were a good outfit and kept coming all day."
Hemming will no doubt have a healthy respect for his opponents who are on the verge of something pretty special.
The Magpies' season appeared dead and buried a month out from finals. However, a winning streak coupled with some fortuitous results around them, had them sneak into the six in the last few minutes of the home and away season.
It is the stuff of dreams in some ways for Yinnar, with Tarwin looming and wanting to become their nightmare.