Stanhope and Lancaster enter Saturday’s encounter locked on four wins and four losses this campaign and the stakes could not be higher for the two teams.
Lions coach Felicity Hall said her outfit understood the importance of the clash.
“It’s exciting for us. We know it’s a must-win game if we want to play finals,” Hall said.
“We’ve had a really great couple of wins and it’s been great for our confidence. The girls are young and confidence is key for them.
“Lancaster are always a tough team and I’m expecting it to be close.”
Lancaster coach Michelle Hill believes little will seperate the two outfits on Saturday.
“This weekend should be a close one. Both teams are in similar spots on the ladder,” Hill said.
“We’ll go out there and try to play our style.”
Hill said the Wombats had battled to gain their full-strength side in recent weeks and were sweating on the availability of one more integral member.
“We’ve basically been trying to get everyone back in recent weeks,” Hill said.
“We still haven’t had a full-strength side together on the court since round one. We’re just waiting on one more.”
Around the courts, the competition’s top four will look to bolster their percentage when they come up against outfits in the bottom five.
Unbeaten Nagambie is on the road to take on 12th-placed Girgarre.
The ladder-leader will be desperate to ensure it exits the round nine fixture with the perfect record.
Shepparton East, which is second, plays host to Avenel (11th) at Central Park Reserve, while third-placed Tallygaroopna takes on Murchison-Toolamba at home.
Dookie United hits the road to take on bottom-ranked Undera.
Elsewhere, Merrigum will eye off trimming back the deficit to Dookie United when it takes on ninth-placed Longwood.
Violet Town sits on 16 points, along with the Bulldogs, and faces a road trip to Ironbark Stadium to take on Rushworth.
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