Despite the actual knockout combatants in the top tier Goulburn Valley Bowls Division weekend pennant competition already being locked in, three of the quartet can change positions after round 14 clashes.
Shepparton Golf is clearly the runaway division one minor premier — and favourite to claim a sixth flag in a row — but Tallygaroopna, Tatura-Hill Top and Shepparton Park can all still sneak into second and secure a double chance.
To make matters even more enticing, the outfits face each other this round.
The Redlegs tackle the Golfers and need at least one rink in a close loss to snare second — being 16 points ahead of the Bulldogs and Parkers.
Mark Ryan and his teammates also hold a 30-shot advantage over the combine, but that could quickly be erased if results do not go their way.
“We're keen to get out there and hopefully have two cracks at Golf in a row if we can hold on to second spot,” Ryan said.
“But we know even one rink is not a given, they belted us last time 18-0, so we'll have a battle on our hands and have to bring our best across the rinks.”
Having won promotion to the Allan Matheson Shield last summer, Tallygaroopna is excited by the progress of its first season — but is not planning to take a backwards step anytime soon.
“We're rapt to play finals and we'd be stoked to finish second,” Ryan said.
“There's no pressure on us to win it this season, we're in it for the long haul at this level.
“We've got a lot of younger bowlers in division three and five who are all hungry to get better, so Tallygaroopna is here to stay.”
The Parkers won by five shots over the Bulldogs in round seven this campaign, but if this contest is another close one the outfits will be locking themselves in for another clash next week in an elimination final.
With pride on the line, Stanhope hosts Euroa and Kyabram welcomes East Shepparton in the other battles of round 14.
Stanhope named Ben Fletcher as a skip for the first time for last weekend's eventually cancelled round, but the teenager has been slotted back in as a third against the Magpies.
The Bombers were most affected by the snap lockdown in Victoria as the most realistic chance of jumping into a finals spot with a stellar fortnight of bowls.
But Dane Gade's troops — as well as Brent Reiner's at East — will have to settle for a morale-boosting result in the last round before turning their attentions towards supporting lower divisions and midweek outfits in strong positions throughout the finals series.
The men's Champion of Champions singles crown will be decided Thursday night at Mooroopna.
Tallygaroopna's Brett Gunning and Tatura-Hill Top's Jason Carter will take to the green from 5pm to do battle in the postponed decider.
“Good luck to Gunny from all of us at Tally,” Ryan said.
●After The Jack — sponsored by Shepparton Bowls Shop — will record a short episode this week after initially postponing production due to the lockdown.
LISTEN
After The Jack - East Shepparton coach Brent Reiner joins the show
Surviving, then thriving - Peter Le Sueur's story
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