Which Shepparton team will advance to the Allan Matheson Shield grand final?

It's preliminary final time in the Goulburn Valley's weekend pennant and Tallygaroopna moved its almighty winning run to 10 games by overcoming Golf in last weekend's major semi-final.

The result gives Tallygaroopna the season series edge over Golf, having won its past two meetings with the perennial fancy.

One must also pay attention to the third party to this finals picture, though, which comes in the form of Shepparton Park.

After holding its nerve to maintain fourth spot in a frenetic final day of regular season bowls, Park made a definitive statement of intent in providing the upset over Kyabram.

The 14-100 to 2-86 victory provided its fair share of shockwaves, as a Bombers side that Golf had denied the double chance by the slimmest of margins crashed out at the first hurdle.

For this reason, despite going two for two in home and away play against Park, Golf's Brad Orr will not take the situation for granted.

“They caused a bit of an upset last week, so we'll have to be switched on and not underestimate them on the day,” Orr said.

“We'll definitely draw on our experience when it comes to playing finals and we'll go into Saturday's final confident.

“Last week we were right in the game with Tally, but it slipped away a bit; we just have to play better and be more consistent for longer.

“We haven't really changed too much. We've been there and done it before, which holds us in good stead, but we know we have to let our bowls do the talking.”

As for the statistical rank outsider of this finals campaign, Park has already claimed one scalp observers might not have seen coming — so what's to stop a second?

Paul Becroft has instilled his charges with plenty of belief, but understands the task ahead.

“We've been written off most of the year. We were picked to finish fifth in pre-season, but the team we've got now is in its best form,” Becroft said.

“When we played Golf in the final round, we only lost by (14 shots), and anything can happen in bowls.

“We've got a couple of teams like (Paul) Nichols and (Geoff) Boyle's sides who, when they win, they win big.

“We were quietly confident going into (the Kyabram game) and had a pretty good belief, although, they've got some young kids that are going to be champions.

“We've had a lot of negative comments over the season that we weren't good enough, but we proved them wrong and it'll be a real bonus if we can get over Golf.”

Of course many a neutral observer will keep an eye on proceedings, up to and well beyond the Tallygaroopna contingent.

Among those watching it unfold is the Kyabram-based Boswood family, which boasts multiple talents that Becroft alluded to as future champions.

Appearing on this week's After the Jack, the Boswood clan gave a series of finals predictions — but there was little love for Park.

Henry Boswood tipped Tallygaroopna to take the title, even predicting a margin of 14 shots before the opponent is known.

Charlie took a different approach, stating Shepparton Golf will win the pennant if it gets over Park on Saturday.

Elder Darren maintained it was “hard to look past Tally”, who had been the benchmark side throughout the season.