A look ahead at how the Haisman Shield could shape up after Saturday

However, not all games look done and dusted by any stretch, which makes this exercise all the more fascinating, if not staunchly presumptuous.

Central Park-St Brendan’s and Waaia looked set to provide the true main event of round 10 action, and day one proceedings did nothing to dissuade that notion.

However, this fixture remains the toughest to predict and has the most significant implications for the upper rungs to boot.

Central Park needs 232 to secure a massive result and has only exceeded that score once in season 2023-24.

Is that entirely the fault of the Tigers’ batting line up, though?

After all, the bowlers, usually working first, have brilliantly corralled opposition batsmen to largely mitigate the need for massive knocks.

Should Tyler Larkin’s men overpower the Bombers, they will - barring something extraordinary in Mooroopna - claim second spot and move to within half a game of the summit.

Larkin recognises the challenges at hand, though.

“I think we’ve struggled a bit with the bat, getting rolled for a couple of low scores,” Larkin said.

“We’ve spoken about it in-depth since the break, and looking towards the weekend, we will do our best to bat 80 overs.

“If we do that, we should win the game.”

Waaia, with victory, would go 10 points clear at the top in all likelihood.

Of course, a club like Central Park will approach with confidence nonetheless.

“We’re excited by what this week brings, because they’re the best side in the competition for a reason,” Larkin said.

“Internally, we believe we can do it, and hopefully it puts us in good stead for the rest of the season.

“I’ve got the utmost faith in our batters that we can make the big scores if we’re playing well and applying ourselves.”

Mooroopna looks virtually certain to lose at least one spot on the table unless a miracle occurs with the ball at home to Numurkah, where the Blues need just 78 runs with nine wickets in hand.

The highly likely six points should see Numurkah solidify its contendership, but other results might end Tim Arnel’s hopes of progressing up the table.

Take Nagambie, for example.

With Euroa firmly on the canvas at 6-24, still 157 adrift of the Lakers’ total, there is more than enough reason to dream of a 10-pointer.

Though skipper Mark Nolan was cagey on the subject, there is little to suggest that Nagambie can’t take what it wants from this fixture and draw level with Mooroopna at 46.

Another side set to take advantage of the Cats’ slip-up in the making is Katandra.

While the Eagles weren’t pleased being three wickets down in chasing Karramomus’ 119, the objective is still simplistic, and there should be no concerns in moving to 48 points and outright second.

Shepparton United, meanwhile, continues to sit on the outer but has a gilt-edged chance to make up ground on Old Students.

On no fewer than five occasions, sides have rolled Students for 125 or less, and while a 20-wicket triumph is a stretch for now, United will be motivated to collect whatever points are available.

After all, Kyabram gets six points for its fortnight off, though their dreams of moving into a finals spot for free appear dashed.

Tatura and Northerners, both at 24, round off the weekend in a tight tussle that favours the visitors, with 138 needed to win and eight wickets in hand.

Northerners could use the win followed by its six-point bye to at least maintain a mathematical chance of progressing for now.